Olympique Lyonnais need just a draw against Liverpool FC to book their UEFA Champions League knockout place from Group E but coach Claude Puel knows the Reds can make life very tough for the hosts. Rafael Benítez's team could fall six points behind second-placed ACF Fiorentina if results go against them on Wednesday although the manager, who hopes to have Fernando Torres fit, has overseen group-stage recoveries before.
Claude Puel, Lyon coach
Liverpool are always able to produce a big performance. They have a great manager and great players. There were brilliant against Manchester United ten days ago and, even though they lost at Fulham at the weekend, they played well with a lot of spirit. As far as we are concerned, we always focus on the next game, we always put out our best team. It doesn't matter if we take one point or three. We are playing at home and will do our best to win. We won't play for a draw – we don't know how. Even with nine points in the bag, nothing is certain because it's a tough group. Three teams can still go through, it's that open. Liverpool play the way they always used to play. It means they are always efficient when they play well. Even if they slow down the pace, they are able to score a quick goal.
Rafael Benítez, Liverpool manager
Fernando Torres is improving every day. He feels less and less pain. So we can't talk about a possible operation. He's not 100 per cent, but against Manchester United he was 80 per cent and scored the winning goal. I would have put him on the pitch even if the game had been less important. We have experience and have to believe in ourselves, that we can win against Lyon, even though they are a good team. In the past, we had the same difficulties and managed to go through. We have to be confident, show character. If you are nervous, you make mistakes. We are in a difficult period, but football changes every week. Every game is important. Despite the lack of four or five important players, we still have a very good team. We'll see an open game. Lyon won't play for the draw.
Weekend results
31/10/09 AS Saint-Etienne 0-1 Lyon
(Gomis 83)
• Bafétimbi Gomis struck on his return to the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard where he spent six seasons with St-Etienne before a summer switch to Lyon.
• Jérémy Toulalan made his 200th Ligue 1 appearance in the St-Etienne game – 106 with Lyon, 94 for FC Nantes.
31/10/09 Fulham FC 3-1 Liverpool
(Zamora 24, Nevland 73, Dempsey 87; Torres 42)
• Liverpool have lost six of their last seven matches in all competitions after slipping to a fifth Premier League defeat of the campaign at Craven Cottage. They finished with nine men after Philipp Degen (79) and Jamie Carragher (82) were shown straight red cards.
• The Merseysiders have been defeated in their last five away fixtures in all competitions.
• Torres has scored seven goals in his last five Premier League outings.
Team news
Lyon
Out: Anderson (knee, calf, shoulder), Jean-Alain Boumsong (groin), Mathieu Bodmer (groin), François Clerc (knee)
Doubtful: Anthony Réveillère (groin)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: none
• Kim Källström returned from a groin injury as a substitute against St-Etienne.
• Réveillère did not play on Saturday after being afflicted by a similar problem.
Liverpool
Out: Steven Gerrard (groin), Albert Riera (hamstring), Martin Kelly (ankle), Martin Škrtel (muscle), Glen Johnson (calf), Fábio Aurélio (calf)
Doubtful: Fernando Torres (groin), Alberto Aquilani (virus), Daniel Agger (back), David Ngog (ankle)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: none
Background
• Late goals from substitutes Maxime Gonalons and César Delgado gave Lyon a 2-1 triumph at Anfield on Matchday 3, only their second victory in England in seven attempts. It sent the French side three points clear in the section, six above their Premier League rivals.
• Lyon won their first-ever home fixture against English opposition – 1-0 against Tottenham Hotspur FC in the 1967/68 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup second round – but failed to overcome visitors from across the Channel in five subsequent matches, drawing four and losing one.
• Although Liverpool have never played at the Gerland before, they boast an impressive recent record in France having prevailed on their last four trips. Skipper Steven Gerrard hit three goals in successive wins at Olympique de Marseille in the 2007/08 and 2008/09 seasons.
Did you know?
Liverpool won the 1981 European Champion Clubs' Cup on French soil, beating Real Madrid CF 1-0 in the Parc des Princes final.
Claude Puel, Lyon coach
Liverpool are always able to produce a big performance. They have a great manager and great players. There were brilliant against Manchester United ten days ago and, even though they lost at Fulham at the weekend, they played well with a lot of spirit. As far as we are concerned, we always focus on the next game, we always put out our best team. It doesn't matter if we take one point or three. We are playing at home and will do our best to win. We won't play for a draw – we don't know how. Even with nine points in the bag, nothing is certain because it's a tough group. Three teams can still go through, it's that open. Liverpool play the way they always used to play. It means they are always efficient when they play well. Even if they slow down the pace, they are able to score a quick goal.
Rafael Benítez, Liverpool manager
Fernando Torres is improving every day. He feels less and less pain. So we can't talk about a possible operation. He's not 100 per cent, but against Manchester United he was 80 per cent and scored the winning goal. I would have put him on the pitch even if the game had been less important. We have experience and have to believe in ourselves, that we can win against Lyon, even though they are a good team. In the past, we had the same difficulties and managed to go through. We have to be confident, show character. If you are nervous, you make mistakes. We are in a difficult period, but football changes every week. Every game is important. Despite the lack of four or five important players, we still have a very good team. We'll see an open game. Lyon won't play for the draw.
Weekend results
31/10/09 AS Saint-Etienne 0-1 Lyon
(Gomis 83)
• Bafétimbi Gomis struck on his return to the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard where he spent six seasons with St-Etienne before a summer switch to Lyon.
• Jérémy Toulalan made his 200th Ligue 1 appearance in the St-Etienne game – 106 with Lyon, 94 for FC Nantes.
31/10/09 Fulham FC 3-1 Liverpool
(Zamora 24, Nevland 73, Dempsey 87; Torres 42)
• Liverpool have lost six of their last seven matches in all competitions after slipping to a fifth Premier League defeat of the campaign at Craven Cottage. They finished with nine men after Philipp Degen (79) and Jamie Carragher (82) were shown straight red cards.
• The Merseysiders have been defeated in their last five away fixtures in all competitions.
• Torres has scored seven goals in his last five Premier League outings.
Team news
Lyon
Out: Anderson (knee, calf, shoulder), Jean-Alain Boumsong (groin), Mathieu Bodmer (groin), François Clerc (knee)
Doubtful: Anthony Réveillère (groin)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: none
• Kim Källström returned from a groin injury as a substitute against St-Etienne.
• Réveillère did not play on Saturday after being afflicted by a similar problem.
Liverpool
Out: Steven Gerrard (groin), Albert Riera (hamstring), Martin Kelly (ankle), Martin Škrtel (muscle), Glen Johnson (calf), Fábio Aurélio (calf)
Doubtful: Fernando Torres (groin), Alberto Aquilani (virus), Daniel Agger (back), David Ngog (ankle)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: none
Background
• Late goals from substitutes Maxime Gonalons and César Delgado gave Lyon a 2-1 triumph at Anfield on Matchday 3, only their second victory in England in seven attempts. It sent the French side three points clear in the section, six above their Premier League rivals.
• Lyon won their first-ever home fixture against English opposition – 1-0 against Tottenham Hotspur FC in the 1967/68 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup second round – but failed to overcome visitors from across the Channel in five subsequent matches, drawing four and losing one.
• Although Liverpool have never played at the Gerland before, they boast an impressive recent record in France having prevailed on their last four trips. Skipper Steven Gerrard hit three goals in successive wins at Olympique de Marseille in the 2007/08 and 2008/09 seasons.
Did you know?
Liverpool won the 1981 European Champion Clubs' Cup on French soil, beating Real Madrid CF 1-0 in the Parc des Princes final.
