Rafael Benitez believes a fit-again Steven Gerrard can lead Liverpool out of the slump that has seen them lose three games in succession.
Meaningful involvement in both the Premier League and Europe is now under threat and boss Benitez is fully aware of the importance of a victory at Anfield tomorrow when Group E leaders Lyon must be overcome in the Champions League.
Anything else, and the balloon really will go up for Benitez, who is still shaking his head in despair at the freak goal that saw Liverpool lose at Sunderland.
That Darren Bent's winner went in off a red beach ball bought by a fan from Liverpool's own club megastore just about sums up Benitez's difficult season so far.
Now Liverpool face back-to-back Champions League clashes with the French league leaders, as well as a visit from champions Manchester United over the next fortnight.
The return of Gerrard from a groin injury, despite the fact Fernando Torres is still out with a similar injury, can be the boost Benitez believes his squad need.
He said: "With Steven around, it has an effect on the other players. He is an inspiration to them.
"Steven is a winner with the right mentality. But we have to see these players on the pitch, they cannot win games when they are injured.
"The team knows we are not playing at the right level, but they also know that we are good enough.
"They know we must start playing again at that level, their response in training has been positive and we must repeat that on the pitch. One good result will change everything.
"I am confident in my team, we are trying to improve and the response of the players this week has been very good and back to our best.
"We have gone from winning five on the trot to losing three in succession. We were scoring lots of goals and now we have not scored in three.
"But I do not believe there is much difference in all these games. We have played well, created chances and won praise for our attacking play.
"Hopefully we can start to win again, the atmosphere will be better and the mood will change as confidence improves.
"I hope that the Champions League will create a special atmosphere that will inspire the players, as it usually does in games like this at Anfield.''
Lyon boss Claude Puel fears his side's task tomorrow has been made a whole lot tougher because Liverpool are in such a poor vein of form.
Les Gones know a win at Anfield will all but secure their passage to the last 16.
Puel says: "I would rather be playing Liverpool when they are on a good run, not as they are at the moment. Liverpool know they must win.
"They have had some bad results and they are obliged to win and to play well. That puts us under a lot more pressure, but we have two wins already in this group and it is very important to continue in this form.''
Lyon have beaten Fiorentina and Debrecen so far in this group, but slumped to their first defeat of the season on Saturday when lowly Sochaux won 2-0 at the Stade de Gerland in the league.
Puel added: "Liverpool will have the edge because they are at home, there will be a great atmosphere and it will lift them.
"But we must start the game well. We did not do that on Saturday against Sochaux, we dare not do the same thing here.
"I accept that we are missing key players, we have defensive problems, but I believe we have enough quality in our squad to cope with these problems.
"There will be no need to motivate my team, we must impose our own style on the game and we know we will have to be at our best.''
Lyon will be without three central defenders tomorrow with Mathieu Bodmer (groin), Cleber Anderson (knee) and Jean-Alain Boumsong (groin) all missing.
Meaningful involvement in both the Premier League and Europe is now under threat and boss Benitez is fully aware of the importance of a victory at Anfield tomorrow when Group E leaders Lyon must be overcome in the Champions League.
Anything else, and the balloon really will go up for Benitez, who is still shaking his head in despair at the freak goal that saw Liverpool lose at Sunderland.
That Darren Bent's winner went in off a red beach ball bought by a fan from Liverpool's own club megastore just about sums up Benitez's difficult season so far.
Now Liverpool face back-to-back Champions League clashes with the French league leaders, as well as a visit from champions Manchester United over the next fortnight.
The return of Gerrard from a groin injury, despite the fact Fernando Torres is still out with a similar injury, can be the boost Benitez believes his squad need.
He said: "With Steven around, it has an effect on the other players. He is an inspiration to them.
"Steven is a winner with the right mentality. But we have to see these players on the pitch, they cannot win games when they are injured.
"The team knows we are not playing at the right level, but they also know that we are good enough.
"They know we must start playing again at that level, their response in training has been positive and we must repeat that on the pitch. One good result will change everything.
"I am confident in my team, we are trying to improve and the response of the players this week has been very good and back to our best.
"We have gone from winning five on the trot to losing three in succession. We were scoring lots of goals and now we have not scored in three.
"But I do not believe there is much difference in all these games. We have played well, created chances and won praise for our attacking play.
"Hopefully we can start to win again, the atmosphere will be better and the mood will change as confidence improves.
"I hope that the Champions League will create a special atmosphere that will inspire the players, as it usually does in games like this at Anfield.''
Lyon boss Claude Puel fears his side's task tomorrow has been made a whole lot tougher because Liverpool are in such a poor vein of form.
Les Gones know a win at Anfield will all but secure their passage to the last 16.
Puel says: "I would rather be playing Liverpool when they are on a good run, not as they are at the moment. Liverpool know they must win.
"They have had some bad results and they are obliged to win and to play well. That puts us under a lot more pressure, but we have two wins already in this group and it is very important to continue in this form.''
Lyon have beaten Fiorentina and Debrecen so far in this group, but slumped to their first defeat of the season on Saturday when lowly Sochaux won 2-0 at the Stade de Gerland in the league.
Puel added: "Liverpool will have the edge because they are at home, there will be a great atmosphere and it will lift them.
"But we must start the game well. We did not do that on Saturday against Sochaux, we dare not do the same thing here.
"I accept that we are missing key players, we have defensive problems, but I believe we have enough quality in our squad to cope with these problems.
"There will be no need to motivate my team, we must impose our own style on the game and we know we will have to be at our best.''
Lyon will be without three central defenders tomorrow with Mathieu Bodmer (groin), Cleber Anderson (knee) and Jean-Alain Boumsong (groin) all missing.
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