Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez goes into Wednesday's crucial Champions League match in Lyon knowing that defeat will put further pressure on his injury-ravaged team - and his own future with the Reds.
Liverpool has lost six of its last seven games. Another defeat
would leave Liverpool facing elimination from the Champions League,
dependent on other results to reach the knockout round.
"You have to be calm and keep working hard and find solutions,"
Benitez said in the wake of Saturday's 3-1 loss at Fulham,
Liverpool's fifth defeat in the Premier League this season.
Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann, a member of the team
that beat Milan on penalties in the 2005 final, believes Benitez
will come through.
"People calling for Rafa's head are being very premature,"
Hamann said. "Rafa has got everything a top-class manager needs -
he will turn it around. "
Losses to Fiorentina and Lyon have left Liverpool third in Group
E, six points behind the French side and three behind the Italian
club. Lyon only needs a draw Wednesday to advance.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has been ruled out with a groin
injury. Defenders Glen Johnson and Fabio Aurelio failed to shake
off calf injuries and did not travel with the squad on Tuesday.
Midfielders Albert Riera (hamstring), defenders Martin Kelly
(ankle) and Martin Skrtel (muscle) were ruled out earlier.
Striker Fernando Torres is still feeling the effects of an
adductor injury he picked up playing for Spain last month.
British newspapers reported on Tuesday that Torres' injury could be
more serious than previously thought. The 25-year-old is reportedly
nursing a hernia that could require long-term rest or surgery.
Benitez, who was heavily criticized for substituting Torres
midway through the second half of Saturday's loss at Fulham, needs
the Spain striker to make an impact in France.
"We have to take Fernando to Lyon because we don't have too many
options," he said.
Defenders Daniel Agger (back), and striker David Ngog (ankle)
face late fitness checks but traveled to Lyon, as did Alberto
Aquilani, who is recovering from a virus. The Italian has had only
15 minutes of first-team action this season.
Daniel Ayala, Stephen Darby, Jay Spearing and Damien Plessis
give Liverpool's depleted squad some cover.
Lyon captain Cris said taking Liverpool lightly would imperil
Lyon's hopes of winning its fourth straight Champions League match.
"(Liverpool) will give everything, whether they have Gerrard and
Torres or not," the Brazilian defender said. "They are a great
team."
Lyon also has been hampered by injuries all season, particularly
in defense, with manager Claude Puel forced to play France
midfielder Jeremy Toulalan as an emergency center-half alongside
Cris.
"If I have to play against Fernando Torres and (Alberto)
Gilardino in the Champions League it will be tough," Toulalan was
quoted as saying in Tuesday's edition of France Football. "We'll
soon see if I can carry on playing in this position."
Lyon has matched its European form in the French league, gaining
ground on reigning champion Bordeaux with a 1-0 win over
Saint-Etienne on Saturday that moved it up to second place and two
points behind the league leaders.
But behind the scenes, the seven-time champions have had to deal
with France winger Sidney Govou's off-field activities.
Govou was stripped of the club captaincy after a drunken night
out at the Lyon Grand Prix tennis tournament last week, with Cris
now taking the armband. Puel and Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas
have promised to deal with Govou, who was held overnight in a
police cell for drunk driving in December.
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by mmape mokhurutshe g. November 4, 2009 10:54 GMT
the spirit of anfield shall be taken to france and obviously we know what we want as the most successful English team in history.long live is the spirit at liverpool.we say"this is anfield" because of a reason.champions league is ours. by THE BIGGEST LIVERPOOL FAN
by Teddy November 4, 2009 11:03 GMT
Lets not beat around the bush... Liverpool are not in injury crisis as it seems, they have 6 players injured including 2 that really matter being Gerrard and Torres. They simply do not have a big enough squad with the quality to compete at premiership and champions league level week in week out...
Take United: 2 weeks ago, had Giggs, Rooney, Park, Fletcher, Van der Sar, Rio & Hargreaves injured... No crisis
Take Chelsea: 2 weeks ago, had Mikel, Zhirkov, Joe Cole, Alex & Ferreria injured... No crisis
