Match Preview: Lyon vs. LiverpooL

Two weekends ago, Liverpool thought they had reached the turning point of what has been a frustrating campaign on all fronts. A 2-0 win over Manchester United seemed to silence the doubters and catapult them back into Premier League contention.

Now, though, after Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Fulham (and the League Cup loss to Arsenal), it's back to panic stations for Rafael Benitez and his men as they look to resurrect their Champions League campaign.

The Reds' Spanish boss was heavily criticised for his early substitution of Fernando Torres at Craven Cottage, as he took the superstar striker off with the scores still level. Some feel Benitez was wrapping 'El Nino' in cotton wool for Wednesday's away game at Olympique Lyonnais, so the pressure is on to get a result at the Stade Gerland.

The Merseyside outfit sits third in Group E with just three points from three games, having followed up their 2-0 loss at Fiorentina with a shock home defeat to Lyon last time out - Cesar Delgado grabbing a late winner at the Kop end.

OL are cruising through the group stages with a maximum nine points under their belt. And although their domestic form has been mixed since plundering Anfield, they sit just two points shy of Ligue 1 leaders Girondins Bordeaux.

A win for Claude Puel's side this week would simultaneously guarantee them a spot in the knockout stage and dash Liverpool's faint hopes of topping the group. And if Fiorentina beat Debrecen as expected, the Scouse giants will be left facing demotion to the Europa League.

It's do-or-die for Rafa's Reds, but the statistics fall in their favour - they have won on each of their last four visits to France. However, they'll be missing their talismanic skipper this time around.


FORM GUIDE

Olympique Lyonnais

Oct 31 Saint-Etienne 0-1 Olympique Lyonnais
Oct 24 OCG Nice 4-1 Olympique Lyonnais
Oct 20 Liverpool 1-2 Olympique Lyonnais (Champions League)
Oct 17 Olympique Lyonnais 0-2 Sochaux
Oct 3 RC Lens 0-2 Olympique Lyonnais

Liverpool

Oct 31 Fulham 3-1 Liverpool
Oct 28 Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool (League Cup)
Oct 25 Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United
Oct 20 Liverpool 1-2 Olympique Lyonnais (Champions League)
Oct 17 Sunderland 1-0 Liverpool


TEAM NEWS

Olympique Lyonnais

Playmaker Kim Kallstrom and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris are available once more, having both shrugged off groin problems to feature against Saint-Etienne at the weekend.

Jean-Alain Boumsong (groin), Mathieu Bodmer and long-term absentee Anderson (knee, calf, shoulder) remain sidelined, meaning Jeremy Toulalan should continue to partner Cris in central defence - a role in which the midfield general has impressed immensely.

Michel Bastos sat on the bench at Anfield due to fitness concerns, but the Brazilian star - recently called up to Dunga's national team - could start this time around.

Last starting XI (vs. Saint-Etienne): Lloris, Clerc, Cris, Toulalan, Cissokho, Makoun, Ederson, Pjanic, Bastos, Govou, Lisandro.

Liverpool

The big blow for the Reds is the absence of Steven Gerrard, who is recovering slowly from a groin injury he exacerbated when these two teams last met. It is thought that both he and Fernando Torres will need surgery, although the latter is expected to start in France.

In more bad news for the travelling side, Alberto Aquilani is laid up with a virus having only just returned from the ankle injury that delayed his debut until last week's League Cup loss to Arsenal.

Glen Johnson is battling a calf problem, Martin Kelly - who impressed on his senior bow in the reverse fixture - is out with ankle trouble and Philipp Degen isn't part of the Champions League roster, leaving a hole at right-back that Jamie Carragher may be forced to fill.

Last starting XI (vs. Fulham): Reina, Degen, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Kuyt, Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun, Voronin, Torres.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Olympique Lyonnais - Miralem Pjanic

Of all the creative talents at Lyon's disposal, this youngster is perhaps the most exciting. Many were left underwhelmed by the Bosnian's display in the reverse fixture, but on home soil he may feel more able to take charge of the game and show off his considerable gifts.

Liverpool - Fernando Torres

The Spaniard's goal against Fulham at the weekend - fashioned from what commentator John Motson termed 'a quarter-chance' - underlined just why, even when not fully fit, he is considered one of the world's deadliest strikers. He's yet to find the net in Europe this season, though, and will be eager to change that - especially with his prolific skipper sidelined.

Lyon Wary Of Liverpool Threat

Lyon insist they will not be lulled into a false sense of security ahead of their crucial Champions League clash with Liverpool.

The English giants are staring at a premature exit after Lyon's 2-1 victory at Anfield a fortnight ago left them with two defeats from three in Group E.

Rafa Benitez's men were reduced to nine as they suffered a 3-1 defeat at Fulham on Saturday - their fifth loss in 11 Premier League games - and have a host of injury problems for the trip to France.

Lyon need just a point to book their place in the knock-out stages and coach Claude Puel is under no illusions about the Reds' big-game pedigree.

"Liverpool may have their problems, but after we beat them they turned in a great performance against Manchester United," he said.

"They were tough, played at a great pace and fully deserved the victory. We saw then that they have great potential to bounce back.

"They are still a great club and capable of playing great games when they want, with fine players and a great coach.

"But we will only be thinking about winning, not just playing for the draw," Puel added. "Whether it is one point that we need or three, we will always play the same way.

"But we must get something from this match. We do not want to be needing to get points to qualify in the match against Fiorentina in Florence.

"Three teams can still qualify. It is a very tough group and maybe 12 points will not be enough to win the group.

"I believe that Liverpool will work very hard, put us under a lot of pressure and be determined to reverse the results that they have been getting so far in Europe this season. They will be tough opponents."

Liverpool dominated English and European football in the 1970s and 80s, and although they have not won a league title since 1990, Benitez has led them to two Champions League finals in the last five years.

Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson have not travelled, while star striker Fernando Torres is struggling with a hernia problem, but Lyon's Swedish midfielder Kim Kallstrom remains wary of the Reds.

"As a boy I watched Liverpool on TV and always admired them, many youngsters back then did," he said.

"I suppose that to see them in their current position is a surprise, but it is not something that they cannot turn around.

"Things happen like this to even the greatest teams. There can be a few defeats, then a dip in confidence and one bad thing follows another.

"Everything seems to go wrong all at once. But they can recover from this.

"We know they have injuries, but it is not something we have been talking about.

"We have to plan for the match as if nothing of that sort had happened. They are still a great club with great players, and we must not forget that."

Kallstrom added: "He (Torres) is probably the best in the world, I have played against him at international level and he is very clever with the ball and a very tough opponent.

"He is Liverpool's best player and whatever injury he has, we must concentrate on stopping him and being clinical in our own play to get the result we need."

Liverpool Rocked By News That Fernando Torres Is Facing Hernia Surgery

Fernando Torres has a hernia that could require surgery if he is overplayed, Rafael Benítez has been warned.

Liverpool’s medical staff delivered the worrying prognosis during the build-up to the club’s crucial Champions League match against Lyons on Wednesday.

Steven Gerrard is definitely out of the group E tie at the Stade Gerland because of a groin problem. The Liverpool captain is joined on Benítez’s lengthy casualty list by Fábio Aurélio, Albert Riera, Martin Skrtel and Martin Kelly.

Torres has been included in the squad that travels to France today and is likely to start Wednesday’s game — when anything other than victory will leave their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages hanging by a thread — and play through the pain.

The inguinal hernia has been affecting the striker for most of the past month since the problem developed while on international duty with Spain in early October.

Liverpool have attempted to mask the severity of Torres’s condition by nursing him through matches and allowing him to train only immediately before games, when his physical condition is deemed well enough. Since the 25-year-old suffered his latest setback, though, there have been real fears that he could need an operation.

It is hoped that the combination of rationing the striker’s appearances and occasionally allowing him to miss training will allow Torres the rest time he needs for surgery to be averted.

Benítez is aware, however, that even these precautions may not be enough to spare his £22 million record signing from having to have an operation.

Torres was substituted after an hour of Liverpool’s 3-1 Barclays Premier League defeat away to Fulham on Saturday, a decision that puzzled many fans and caused Ronnie Whelan, the former Anfield captain, to call for the manager’s head.

But it now seems clear that it was simply the latest example of Benítez’s desire to protect the forward from exacerbating the seriousness of his condition.

“I was surprised with the critics after the game because Fernando has had problems in the last month after the international games,” Benítez said. “We are trying to manage because he was close to having an operation.

“He is not comfortable. He has not got the power he had before, so we have to manage and try to protect him. He cannot play well if you keep pushing him. Maybe if you push him he will be injured for a long time.

“So, I am really surprised with the critics. When you talk about big names, people just analyse the names and not how the player is when he is on the pitch. He was not 100 per cent fit. We have to take Fernando to Lyons because we don’t have too many options.”

Benítez already faces the prospect of Gerrard having to undergo groin surgery to correct a problem he suffered while on duty with England.

“Gerrard won’t travel to Lyons,” Benítez confirmed. “He has no chance. He is improving but we have to wait. He has had an injection but we have to wait two or three days and see how he reacts.

“Skrtel also has no chance. He has a small muscle problem. It’s not too big but he is feeling something.”

At a time when Benítez’s position as Liverpool manager is being questioned like never before after six defeats in their past seven games, his injury concerns are mounting.

The situation is so dire that Alberto Aquilani, the Italy midfield player, has been added to the squad despite not having fully recovered from illness, while Benítez has also been forced to call on David Ngog and Daniel Agger even though the pair are nursing slight knocks.

“Agger is improving — he will travel and we will then decide,” Benítez said. “He felt something in his back but it’s much better now. We have to wait and see how he reacts. Ngog is much better, so he could be available.”

Benítez has taken the unusual step of naming a 20-man squad, with Stephen Darby, the 21-year-old right back who has never started a game for the club, included in case Glen Johnson fails to recover from the calf strain that has kept the England defender out of action since Liverpool’s victory over Manchester United nine days ago.

Uefa has also given the club special dispensation to promote Danny Ayala, the 18-year-old centre back, into the squad from their B-list.

Glen Johnson And Fabio Aurelio Added To Liverpoool Manager Rafael Benitez's Injury List

Glen Johnson and Fabio Aurelio have not travelled with the Liverpool squad for the Champions League match against Lyons tomorrow night after they failed fitness tests today.

Uefa has allowed Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, to bring in Daniel Ayala from a reserve list of players, such is the severity of the injury crisis at Anfield. Steven Gerrard, the captain, is among the players unavailable to the Spanish manager while Fernando Torres, the star centre forward, is also struggling to be fit.

Both Johnson and Aurelio, the defenders, were judged unfit to play in the vital group E match at the Stade de Gerland, and stayed on Merseyside for further treatment on their calf injuries.

Liverpool are third in their group on three points after losing to Fiorentina in September and suffering a 2-1 defeat to Lyons at Anfield two weeks ago. The top two from the group will qualify for the knockout stages and with Liverpool three behind Fiorentina in second and six behind Lyons in first, tomorrow night's match will go a long way to determining their future in the competition.

Hamburg Star Eljero Elia On Liverpool Radar

According to a report in German newspaper Bild, English giants Liverpool are closely monitoring the situation of speedy Hamburg attacker Eljero Elia.

Reds manager Rafael Benitez is eager to add some more depth to his attacking unit and the Spanish gaffer has reportedly made Elia one of his primary targets.

The Dutch international joined HSV from Eredivisie outfit Twente last summer for a reputed fee of €9 million. Elia has quickly developed into a key player for the Hanseaten.

His impressive performances haven't gone unnoticed in the rest of Europe. Apparently, Liverpool have sent scouts to Hamburg's latest Bundesliga games in order to have a look at the left winger.

Elia's current HSV deal is due to expire in the summer of 2014, meaning that the attacker won't leave Germany on the cheap. However, Liverpool could opt to involve Ryan Babel in the deal in order to lower HSV's demands.

Roberto Mancini Linked With Liverpool Job

According to The Daily Mail, Roberto Mancini has opened the door on the possibility of succeeding the under-fire Rafael Benitez as Liverpool manager.

The in-demand Italian recently settled his £5.5 million-per-year contract with Serie A giants Inter Milan, having parted ways with the San Siro club in May 2008.

Thus, with the Nerazzurri no longer obliged to feed his bank account, it is believed that Mancini is finally ready to re-enter the world of football management.

The former Bologna, Sampdoria, Lazio and Leicester City forward has been sought out by clubs from all over Europe in the past 18 months, the most noteworthy being Real Madrid.

But now it appears there could be interest from Merseyside as well, with the Reds struggling to find any sort of consistency in a season that has seen them lose five of their 11 Premier League game so far.

Benitez, meanwhile, has also been touted for the post at the Santiago Bernabeu, although Galacticos president Florentino Perez recently came out in support of Manuel Pellegrini.

Dossena Linked With Napoli Switch

Andrea Dossena's agent has admitted the Liverpool defender has attracted interest from Italian club Napoli.

The Reds defender has only made one substitute appearance in the Premier League so far this season and is finding it difficult to prove his worth to manager Rafa Benitez.

With Napoli looking to bolster their defence during the January transfer window, Dossena's agent Roberto La Florio thinks the left-back may want to move to ensure a place in the Italy squad for next year's World Cup.

"It is clear that in January Napoli will sign new players, especially in the role of Dossena," said La Florio.

"We'll see in January if there are opportunities to return to Italy and play - we are interested because Dossena wants to go to the World Cup.

"Napoli is the Italian team that has pushed most for Dossena and according to me it would be the perfect solution for him."

The 28-year-old became the first Italian player to play for Liverpool when he signed at Anfield for £7million in July last year.

Dossena is currently recovering from a muscle injury but may make the bench for the Reds' UEFA Champions League trip to Lyon on Wednesday.

Manchester United & Liverpool To Scout QPR Wonderkid Raheem Sterling This Week

Representatives from Manchester United and Liverpool lead a list of twelve Premier League clubs who are expected to watch QPR wonderkid Raheem Sterling in action this week.

Sterling has been picked for the England Under-16 side to play Northern Ireland in the Victory Shield on Thursday.

Scouts from United and Liverpool were in attendance at a QPR Under-18 match over the weekend to have another look at the striker.

Reports on Sunday claimed QPR were bracing themselves for a bid for Sterling after he attended the recent Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United.

The Championship side are now hoping to fast track Sterling into their first team and he could make his debut when he turns 15 in December.

QPR youth chief Steve Gallen is quoted in the Daily Mirror: "He is a great lad, very popular with his team-mates and with bundles of potential. If he keeps his feet on the ground and continues to work hard he has got a very bright future ahead of him."

Platini’s New Measures Could Hurry Liverpool Takeover By Kraft

While Michel Platini's plans for reform in European soccer may, at first glance, appear a serious threat to English soccer club Liverpool's future in European competition, the club's long-term future may be significantly brighter once the new measures are put in place.

Liverpool were one of the clubs namechecked by Platini when discussing his reforms in an interview with the Daily Telegraph newspaper, saying: "If Liverpool pay €60 million (interest) every year to the banks, it's a lot of money." The Uefa president vowed: "The philosophy to participate in our competitions is you must not spend more money than you receive."

He added: "In Germany, debts are not accepted. In England they are."

Platini also criticised the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Inter Milan, saying: "By putting in new rules we will protect the business of [Chelsea owner Roman] Abramovich, [Inter Milan owner] Massimo Moratti or [Manchester United owner Malcolm] Glazer. I am sure they want to sell but who will buy clubs with so many debts? Who would be that stupid?"

However, it is the large section of Liverpool's fans currently dissatisfied with the club's owner, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, who have perhaps the most reason to welcome Platini's reforms. Robert Kraft, one of US sport's most respected team owners, has long expressed an interest in taking control of Liverpool, but has said he will not do so while the financial situation in English soccer remains out of control.

"We don't want to be a business where the wallet determines what kind of player you have," he told the British press in October, before adding to the New York Times: "At some point in the future there's a good possibility we could be involved.

In June, he revealed: "I met with David Moores, who is a fine gentleman, and we came very close to buying it, very close. I wanted to take over Liverpool. If the salary cap was there, we would have done it."

A salary cap may not be on the agenda, but Platini's reforms could be enough to tempt the man who turned the New England Patriots into the NFL's dominant team to put his money where his mouth is.

Jamie Carragher: Liverpool Should Have Signed Nicolas Anelka

Jamie Carragher admits Liverpool are paying the price for letting Nicolas Anelka leave the club.

The Chelsea striker enjoyed a productive loan spell at Anfield under Gerard Houllier in 2001-02, but chose not to sign the Frenchman permanently, instead signing El Hadji Diouf was signed for £12 million.

"I think it's a bit strong to say it was one of the worst decisions ever, but it's fair to say it was a mistake,” said Carragher.

"You look at Anelka now – he was top scorer in the Premier League last season. It's in the past now, but it was probably something that never went our way."

With Fernando Torres – Liverpool’s only reliable supplier of goals – heading for an operation, manager Rafa Benítez will be forced to rely on the likes Andriy Voronin, Ryan Babel and David Ngog.

Benítez is currently using Torres sparingly but will still include the Spaniard in his squad for the trip to Lyon on Wednesday: "We have to take Fernando to Lyon because we don't have too many options. We have to keep working with him and the rest of the players.

"We are trying to manage because he was close to having an operation. Still yesterday, two days after the game, he is feeling something.

"He is not comfortable. He has not got the power he had before, so we have to try to protect him.

"But he cannot play well if you keep pushing him, maybe if you push him he will be injured for a long time."

San Jose Frustrated In Spain

Liverpool youngster Mikel San Jose may be set to return from his loan spell in Spain ahead of schedule.

The 20-year-old defender agreed to join Athletic Bilbao on a season-long deal over the summer, but has grown frustrated at a lack of opportunities in his homeland.

He has been awarded just seven minutes of action this term and feels he needs to explore other avenues.

Reports suggest two Premier League clubs have expressed an interest in San Jose's services and his agent admits an agreement could be struck in January.

"His patience is being pushed and if nothing chances he will leave Bilbao in the New Year," said Jesus Medina.

"We do not understand Bilbao's persistence to strike a deal over the summer if they had no plans to play San Jose.

"This situation is damaging to his career. He is a professional and does not want to cause controversy, but he is suffering at the moment."

Speculation suggests that Blackburn and Wolves are the two English clubs keen on securing a loan deal for San Jose.

Liverpool FC Can Claim Lyon Win, Says Rafa

Defiant Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is adamant his side can claim a vital victory in Lyon on Wednesday night.

The Anfield boss watched on as his side capitulated 3-1 against Fulham on Saturday, a result which leaves them languishing outside the top four and one which made it six defeats in the last seven matches.

With their Premier League title hopes appearing to have gone and a top four place under threat, winning the Champions League could well provide Liverpool’s only route back into Europe’s leading competition next season.

With qualification for the knockout stages hanging by a thread and a debilitating injury list, Benitez must conjure a victory against the odds before welcoming Birmingham City to Anfield at the weekend.

Keeping his fingers crossed Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard will be fit for the trip to France, Benitez believes his side has the character to pull it off.

Benitez said: “We have to approach every game thinking about winning and the next game is against Lyon and after we have to think about Birmingham.

“The most important thing for me now is to know how many players we have available and to start preparing our team. We have this problem and it will be the same next week.

“Hopefully we will have some experience and confidence that we can do it (beat Lyon) but we will see how the other players are for the next game.

“Maybe (David) Ngog will be available, maybe Gerrard but that depends on his progression – we will have to see.

“It took four days for Torres to be ready again last time.

“We try to progress in both competitions but the level of competition is not easy.”

Liverpool's Gerrard Out Of Lyon Champions League Match

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard, midfielder Albert Riera and defenders Martin Kelly and Martin Skrtel will all miss Wednesday's decisive Champions League match at Olympique Lyon, manager Rafa Benitez said on Monday.

However, Benitez added that he was hoping Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani would recover from a virus that kept him out of Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Fulham for the Group E match.

Liverpool have to win to realistically keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout round after losing their last two matches in the competition to Fiorentina and Lyon.

Benitez told the club's website (www.liverpoolfc.tv): "Aquilani had a virus. He trained today but was a little weak. Hopefully, in two days time he will be better."

But Gerrard, who has a groin injury which may need surgery, is definitely out of a game that Liverpool cannot afford to lose after winning just one of their opening three group matches.

"Gerrard won't travel to Lyon," Benitez said. "He has no chance. He is improving but we have to wait. He has had an injection but we have to wait two or three days and see how he reacts."

Benitez confirmed that striker Fernando Torres, who is nursing an adductor muscle injury, was part of the squad travelling to France, explaining: "We have to take Fernando to Lyon because we don't have too many options."

The club confirmed on its website that midfielder Riera and defenders Kelly and Skrtel were also definite non-starters.

Roma Defender John Arne Riise Refutes Rumours Of Liverpool Return

Roma left-back John Arne Riise has reacted angrily to claims by the News of the World that he has explicitly requested to re-join former club Liverpool.

“I never said I wanted to return to Liverpool and I never made those statements,” Riise said via the Giallorossi press office.

“I am settled here in Rome and I want to stay.”

Riise left Liverpool for Roma in the summer of 2008 after spending seven seasons with the Reds.

Riise has failed to establish himself as a regular starter at the Olimpico and the News of the World had alleged the 29-year-old had expressed a desire to go back to Anfield.

Pepe Reina Happy To Agree New Terms With Liverpool

Liverpool's willingness to seal a new contract for first-choice goalkeeper Pepe Reina has been returned by the 27-year-old, who has revealed that he feels at home on Merseyside after five years at Anfield.

The Spaniard, bought by Rafael Benitez in 2005 from Villarreal, also added that one of his daughters "is a Scouser", and that he is desperate to help the club realise their primary ambition of landing a Premier League title.

"My aim is to get a new contract in the future and I want to be here for many years. Apparently the club wants the same," Reina informed the club's official website.

"It's already my fifth season here and that says it all.

"One of my daughters is a Scouser. I have some friends here and my wife and kids are happy. I have every reason to stay longer and of course I will."

He continued: "Titles are what we are all here for. As a Liverpool player, you have to have these ambitions. Trophies are the most important thing, and the most important one is probably the Premier League.

"Rafa Benitez is building something special here. He proved that when he came here - the club was one thing and now it's something totally different. We have grown up and we can still grow up a little bit more."

The Reds suffered their fifth Premier League defeat in 11 games at the weekend; losing 3-1 to Fulham. However, Reina, contrary to popular opinion, still believes that Liverpool can challenge for the domestic crown.

"It's not even close to being over," he defiantly stated. "We have to go game by game. Now we must focus on Lyon, which is massive, and after that Birmingham is a must-win game."

Regarding a new deal for Reina, Benitez recently said: "Pepe is one of the players who I will be really pleased if we can keep him for a long time."

Carra - Tough Times For Reds

Jamie Carragher admits he is 'hurt' by Liverpool's current plight, but has called on his team-mates not to be too downhearted.

Club stalwart Carragher was sent off on Saturday as a 3-1 defeat at Fulham condemned the Reds to a sixth loss in seven games in all competitions.

The setback at Craven Cottage has left Liverpool nine points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea and unlikely to mount a serious title challenge.

The result in West London followed on from a Carling Cup exit in North London to Arsenal which raised further questions over Rafa Benitez's future as manager.

The only bright spot in recent weeks was the 2-0 victory over arch-rivals Manchester United and Liverpool now face a crucial UEFA Champions League tie against Lyon on Wednesday.

Another defeat is likely to see Benitez's men miss out on a place in the last 16 of the competition and Carragher acknowledged the importance of the match.

Carragher, who is captaining the team in the absence of the injured Steven Gerrard, admits Liverpool are currently enduring a troubled period.

"These are tough times and it hurts a lot," said Carragher.

"This is un-Liverpool like. But it is not just the fans who are disappointed, it is the players, the staff and the manager.

"We have got to get back on track with Lyon, which is another massive game.

"We made up for a few things last week by beating Manchester United. Then we have had two defeats since.

"There is only us on the pitch that can turn it around and there will be a lot of talk about this result again.

"We have got to sort this out with the management and staff. We can't afford to be too downhearted for too long because we've got to get ready for the next game."

Future Of Liverpool Boss Hinges On Next Three Matches

Rafa Benitez's future at Liverpool will be determined over their next three games amid growing concern from potential investors.

Liverpool's defeat at Fulham on Saturday was the sixth in their last seven matches - the worst sequence of results for more than 50 years.

And Benitez takes his crisis-hit squad to Lyon on Wednesday knowing defeat could finish their Champions League campaign.

A failure to win there will put more pressure on their unpopular American owners to find new investment with the financial blow of an early European exit costing as much as £15million for a club already £250m in debt.

The desperate situation would present Benitez with a challenge as daunting as any since he left Valencia for Merseyside in the summer of 2004.

And although the contract he signed earlier this year would guarantee him a £20m pay-off - a seemingly prohibitive figure in the current circumstances - pressure could be put on partners Tom Hicks and George Gillett for change from potential investors eager to take the club forward.

The Americans and managing director Christian Purslow will take a very close look at the next three matches against Lyon, Birmingham and Manchester City before making what could be a very big decision.

Asked about his future, Benitez would only reply: 'My future is against Lyon.'

The manager will meet his staff today for an inquest into the 3-1 defeat at Fulham, when Liverpool finished with nine men after Philipp Degen and Jamie Carragher were sent off.

Rafael Benítez Has Given Up On Winning Premier League, Says Ronnie Whelan

Ronnie Whelan, who won six league titles with Liverpool, has accused Rafael Benítez of giving up on the title race.

And following Liverpool’s fifth Premier League defeat, at Fulham, the former Irish international claimed that the Liverpool manager is concentrating only on the Champions League so further his career.

"It's all gone wrong with the manager. He's shown exactly where his priorities lie,” said Whelan, speaking on RTE Television. “He wants to win the European Cup. He wants to be the man who wins the European Cup so he can get a job anywhere in Europe.

“I think after winning the European Cup with Liverpool he will get a job in Europe anyway but, for me, now, his days have got to be numbered at Liverpool.

"Why after such a great result against Manchester United, do you want to take a huge step backwards after losing to Arsenal in the Carling Cup as well? I don't see where he's coming from now.

"He showed me that he wants to win the Champions League and that's all he cares about - because of the team he picked [against Fulham]. When I saw the team I thought that straight away, he's not really bothered now. And I can't see why he's done it.

"He's putting all his eggs in one basket. If he loses in Lyon, he probably won't qualify for the Champions League for the knockout stages. So, he's out of the Champions League, he's not going to win the Premiership anyway - so he's messed up completely."

Fairclough: Reds Must Keep Rafa

Liverpool are facing the prospect of their worst run of results since the Bill Shankly era started 50 years ago - but under-fire boss Rafael Benitez has received backing from an Anfield legend.

Benitez is battling to overcome a horror injury list ahead of the make-or-break Champions League showdown in Lyon on Wednesday.

A loss there would mean seven defeats in eight games after Saturday's 3-1 setback at Fulham, when star striker Fernando Torres - himself struggling for fitness - was substituted at 1-1.

The Anfield club has never experienced such a run since Shankly was appointed, the 50-year anniversary of the charismatic Scot's arrival in 1959 being December 1.

Former Anfield hero David Fairclough has supported Benitez, and said: "The club is moving in a certain direction, and this season it has been totally in Benitez's hands.

"So to sack the manager, or even think of sacking the manager, is only going to throw Liverpool backwards.

"We are going to have to stick with him and hope that we turn things around."

He added: "I know some fans who were disappointed when Rafa took off Torres at Fulham, but the lad clearly wasn't fully fit.

"Liverpool have been hit by injuries and illness, and clearly had there been any more injuries or problems late on in the game, it would not have been helpful for the team plan for Wednesday night.

"But I can see Liverpool getting the result they need in Lyon. When you are talking about a dozen or more players not being available, I believe things will look a lot different come kick-off in Lyon.

"That situation will be turned around a bit, people will be fit by them, I'm sure.

"They go there knowing exactly what they have to do, and I believe Liverpool can win in Lyon. They have had situations like this before, and have produced the right results so they are more than capable of doing it again."

Benitez is facing a nightmare injury list which, apart from Torres and Steven Gerrard (both groin), sees Glen Johnson, Fabio Aurelio (both calf), Daniel Agger (back), Martin Kelly (ankle), Albert Riera (hamstring) and Andrea Dossena (groin) all struggling.

Additionally, Philipp Degen - red-carded at Fulham - was not named in the club's Champions League squad.

Liverpool also have four players - Alberto Aquilani, Martin Skrtel, David Ngog and Diego Cavalieri - suffering from a virus, although Benitez says: "It is not swine flu, we haven't got that here."

Benitez's own tenure as manager is now under close scrutiny inside and outside the club.

He is hopefully that top scorer Torres will be on the plane, but there is increasing doubt that skipper Gerrard will be.

Goalkeeper Jose Reina, who has confirmed he wants to sign a new contract, says of the worsening situation: "All of us have to keep everyone else's head up. In weak moments, strong people have to appear. I want to be one of them and support my team-mates if they need it.

"The key is to stay together and not read the critics. Belief is the word we need to use the most - belief in ourselves and our team-mates.

"We were a bit unlucky on Saturday. We didn't play as bad as at other times. It was not even close to our worst game.

"It's a tough moment but we have to stick together and try to sort things out on the pitch and in every single training session. We have pride in wearing this shirt and we have to defend it until the end.

"Any defeat hurts someone with ambition and someone who is hungry for titles. But it doesn't matter how many times you fall down - what matters is how many times you get up and keep trying to be the best.

"That's what we have to do now. We have to go back to our principles, sort out the problems we're having and go back to being the Liverpool everyone wants."

Jamie Carragher, who is hoping his own red card at Fulham will be overturned, defended Benitez's decision to substitute goalscorer Torres, saying: "Fernando has had a lot of problems lately and the longer he stays on the pitch, the more chance he has got of sustaining an injury.

"We know Fernando is not quite 100 per cent. If Fernando had got injured at the end, we would have had virtually nobody for the game in midweek but we still brought a Dutch international in Ryan Babel on. It should be enough quality."

Johnson - Reds Face Disaster

Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has admitted an early exit from the UEFA Champions League would be a 'disaster' for the Anfield outfit.

Rafa Benitez's side are floundering in the Premier League title race after suffering their fifth defeat of the season away to Fulham on Saturday, a match which full-back Johnson missed through injury.

And their European ambitions are also hanging in the balance after back-to-back defeats at the hands of Fiorentina and Lyon ahead of Wednesday's crucial return fixture away to the French side.

England international Johnson knows the implications of the Merseyside giants failing to progress to the knockout stages and does not want to even consider the prospect of slipping into the Europa League.

"It would be a disaster for this club not qualifying for the knockout stages - but it's not something we are thinking about," he told the Daily Star Sunday.

"We have still got to believe we can do it. We don't even want to start thinking about the Europa League.

"It will be no consolation at all. It's not the aim and it's not the plan because we want to be in the Champions. It is one of the main reasons why players want to play for a big side.

"The Champions League is the best club competition there is. I played in it a few times with Chelsea and playing in it again was something that I was looking forward to doing.

"And I would love to go on and win it with Liverpool. But really I don't want to look too far ahead because we have made things very difficult for ourselves in the last two games.

"On paper we should be winning this group. The Champions League is just as important to us as the Premier League.

"They are both massive competitions and we like to do well in them both. The further that we get in the Champions League and the closer we get to the title, the happier the club will be.

"But playing in Europe, as we have shown over the last few years, suits our style."

Former Chelsea and Portsmouth defender Johnson admits Benitez's men need to take maximum points from their remaining fixtures against Lyon, Fiorentina and Debrecen to be sure of progressing.

Lyon currently head Group E with a six-point cushion over the Reds with Fiorentina, who face point-less Hungarian side Debrecen in midweek, enjoying a three-point advantage.

Johnson added: "We are three points behind Fiorentina, so we may need to win all three remaining games. Lyon have got to play Fiorentina as well, so somebody will drop points.

"We would be happy with three wins but Lyon are a fantastic team who score a lot of goals at home.

"Any away game in the Champions League is hard. We must stick together and fight for each other. Hopefully we can keep a clean sheet and come back with three points."