Liverpool 1 - 2 Lyon - match report

Liverpool 1 - 2 Lyon

Oh dear, where to begin?

Liverpool fielded a weakened side last night due to the late withdrawal of Johnston, in addition to current injuries to Rieira and Torres. Still, at least we had our captain back (insert ironic smiley). We had a debutant at right back in the form of Academy graduate, Kelly.

Lyon came into the game with good pedigree in the competition to date, conceding no goals and taking maximum points. They lost their previous league game, however had been victorious in all other games to date this season.

Lyon started better, playing the ball around nicely through our midfield. They were getting a lot of joy through their influential captain, Govou, on the left flank. Liverpool didn't look cohesive at all and this was exacerbated by the withdrawal of Gerrard midway through the first half as he felt a twinge.

Liverpool took the lead after some scrappy play in the Lyon box after Gerrard's replacement, Aurelio took a pop from distance. Yossi found himself in a situation very similar to the one at Chelsea a couple of weeks back, this time he put the ball away. One up and coasting. Not really, however there were a flurry of chances leading up to half time where Liverpool could, and probably should, have put the game to bed.

The second half belonged to Lyon. They pressed us high up the pitch and took advantage of the gaps left by Mascherano and the hugely anonymous Lucas. The crowd were never confident at 1-0 and it proved to be well founded with another goal conceded by a set piece. Reina made two marvellous saves, however couldn't stop Gonalons taking advantage of our static, subbetteo like defence and nodding home.

Rafa came in for a lot of stick from the crowd for taking off Yossi and bringing on Voronin with a few minutes left. To be fair Yossi did look tired and given the propensity for injuries with tiring players, coupled with the fact he is our most creative player with Gerrard and Torres out, it was most likely the correct call.

Approx 1 min after Mascherano took a shot at goal, Lyon counter attacked down our right side with some inventive play and worked the ball into the box for Delgado to score a tap-in injury time winner.

For the 4th time in a row, no complaints. We got what we deserved, nothing. It has left us in a precarious position in the group, basically requiring 3 wins in our remaining games to progress. We did it 2 years ago however it will be considerably more difficult now as this has gone beyond a blip and is a fully formed crisis.

I have no idea what team Rafa will be able to field on Sunday, however we all must hope and pray that some of our players return.

Times are difficult, there is no getting around that. However we should take solace from a quite well known song...

'When you walk through a storm, there's a golden sky'.

Let's hope that Golden sky is pictures of many mancs crying into their burst beachballs in Monday's papers.

Liverpool
25 Reina
05 Agger
22 Insua
23 Carragher
34 Kelly (Skrtel 74)
08 Gerrard (Aurelio 25)
15 Benayoun (Voronin 84)
20 Mascherano
21 Lucas
18 Kuyt
24 Ngog yellow card
Substitutes
01 Cavalieri, 12 Aurelio, 37 Skrtel, 26 Spearing, 28 Plessis, 10 Voronin, 19 Babel

Lyon
01 Lloris
03 Crisyellow card (Gonalons 42)
13 Reveillereyellow card
20 Cissokho
06 Kallstrom
08 Pjanic
10 Ederson (Gomis 61)
17 Makoun
28 Toulalan
09 Lopez (Delgado 86)
14 Govou yellow card
Substitutes
30 Vercoutre, 02 Clerc, 07 Michel Bastos, 41 Gonalons, 18 Gomis, 19 Delgado, 39 Belfodil

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