How we can still qualify
With just two matches left to play in Group E of the Champions League our European destiny for this season is no longer in our own hands.
Lyon's last minute leveller in the Stade Gerland on Wednesday night means we are now relying on other results if we are to stand a chance of qualifying for the next stage of the competition.
Matchday 5 in three weeks time sees Liverpool travelling to face Debrecen while Fiorentina host Lyon in Italy.
Liverpool have to win both of their remaining games to stand any chance of going through to the last sixteen.
(LFC Official Website) 

Carra keeps faith in Reds
Jamie Carragher vows Liverpool will fight to keep their UEFA Champions League hopes alive despite a late lapse in Lyon which left their qualification hopes hanging in the balance.
The Reds must win their final two Group E matches, first at Debrecen before an Anfield showdown with second-placed Fiorentina, to stand any chance of a place in the knock-out stages.
"We still believe we will get through," said the veteran defender, who was forced to play at right-back in France after injuries ravaged the Premier League outfit's back-line.
"We know it's going to be difficult but we're not out of it yet. All we can do is win our next two games and see what happens."
(Sky Sports)

Benitez: I don't fear for my job
Rafael Benitez insists he does not fear for his job even though Liverpool now need a miracle to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.
Liverpool now must rely on Lyon winning away to Fiorentina in their next match, and hope they will still have their destiny in their own hands in their final group matches against Debrecen and the Florence club.
Benitez's own position has been under threat during Liverpool's recent horror run, but when asked if he feared for his job, the Spaniard was quick to respond.
"No, I am only thinking about the next game, nothing else," he said.
Benitez, who also revealed that striker Fernando Torres played through the pain barrier for the 87 minutes he was on the pitch, remains hopeful his side can still progress even though the odds are stacked
against them.
He said: "We have to be really disappointed, we had so many chances and we were almost there.
"But again it was a late goal by Lyon, and it is a massive difference
for us.
"Clearly it is difficult now, but not impossible. We have to win our next game in Debrecen and wait to see what the result is between Fiorentina and Lyon."
(Sporting Life) 

Puel hails Lyon courage
Lyon boss Claude Puel was understandably delighted to have stolen a point off Liverpool on Wednesday.
The Ligue 1 giants appeared to be heading towards their first UEFA Champions League defeat of the season when Ryan Babel hammered home for the Reds on 83 minutes.
That effort looked set to keep Liverpool's ambition of reaching the knockout stages alive, while delaying Lyon's attempts to reach
the last 16.
"We have mastered the art of writing particular screenplays throughout the season," said the former Monaco and Lille coach.
"We were very courageous until the end in order to equalise and to qualify this evening."
(Sky Sports)

Lyon late show leaves Reds reeling
Lisandro Lopez's late equaliser denied Liverpool a crucial victory as Lyon secured Champions League progression with a 1-1 draw in France.
The much-maligned Ryan Babel had scored a wonderful goal with just seven minutes left and if Liverpool could have hung on to that lead they would still have had a realistic chance of reaching the last 16.
But Liverpool's season has been littered with shattering luck and bitter body blows, as well as beach-ball goals.
And when Lisandro struck an equaliser in the final seconds for Lyon - sending them into the last 16 - Liverpool knew their own hopes were left hanging by a thread.
Fiorentina's expected win over Debrecen keeps them firmly in second spot and Liverpool will need more than a miracle now after this devastating blow.
(TEAMtalk) 

Torres starts - Aquilani on bench v Lyon
Fernando Torres will start for Liverpool in tonight's Champions League clash with Lyon at the Stade Gerland, while Alberto Aquilani has been named amongst the substitutes.
Daniel Agger returns to the centre of the Reds' defence to partner Sotirios Kyrgiakos, with Jamie Carragher set to operate in a right-back role.
Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Kuyt, Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun, Voronin, Torres.
Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Darby, Ayala.
(LFC Official Website)

Massive cash boost
for struggling Liverpool FC
Liverpool, which signed a record shirt sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered earlier this year, has agreed another lucrative partnership.
The club will be backed by 188Bet, the online betting company which already has partnerships in place with Aston Villa, Chelsea, Bolton and Wigan. The partnership will last for three years, and is expected to earn the club as much as US$7.5 million.
"We are delighted to welcome 188Bet to our family of partners. Their innovative approach to betting will enhance the fan experience, in addition to benefiting good causes through the 188 Foundation," said Ian Ayre, commercial director of Liverpool Football Club.
"Given 188Bet's presence in Asia, we will develop a number of initiatives that will mutually benefit our respective organisations. 188Bet has made a clear commitment to marketing their brand through football, and we are looking forward to developing a successful partnership," he added.
(SportsPro Media)

Sampdoria's Koman
welcomes Liverpool interest
Sampdoria midfielder Vladimir Koman has welcomed interest
from Liverpool.
Liverpool have been linked with a January move for the Hungary international.
"This is an honour for me if the news about Liverpool is true," Koman told Nemzeti Sport. "This is a famous and giant club but at the moment I want to concentrate on getting regular first-team football.
"I wouldn't go there to sit on the bench. Getting into the starting 11 of Liverpool may be a bit early for me but so far I haven't only thought about this possibility.
"I want to play football and a smaller club may be a more suitable choice for me.
"I have plenty of time as I am a young footballer. In Italy it's difficult to get into the first team as a young player – I'll see how I can deal with my chances at Bari."
(tribalfootball.com)

FA reject Degen appeal
The Football Association have rejected Liverpool's appeal over Philipp Degen's red card against Fulham.
The Swiss defender will serve a three-match ban for the foul
on Clint Dempsey.
(LFC Online)

Rafa has belief in squad
Rafael Benitez believes his side can get a win tonight.
Liverpool need a win in Lyon this evening if they're to keep their Champions League hopes alive. Benitez is confident his squad has the experience and the spirit to do just that.
"We have some experience in Europe and I think that will be the key," said the boss.
"If we want to perform well and do well then we can use the experience we have in the past.
"Always the Champions League is a massive competition. At this time it will be a crucial game for us so we have to approach the game with confidence and thinking about to win.
"The players are disappointed because we are not playing as bad as the results show at the moment. They want to do things properly and they want to win.
"The main thing is how we approach this game and we are only thinking about three points and to be in a better position after the game."
(LFC Online)

Reds Reserves edge past Everton
Liverpool Reserves continued their impressive run of form by beating Merseyside rivals Everton Reserves 1-0 in Widness last night.
Nathan Eccleston, who made his debut for the first time in last week’s Carling Cup exit at the hands of Arsenal, followed by an appearance in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Fulham, got the only goal of the game.
Eccleston himself won a penalty after defender Shane Duffy tripped him just inside the box. Eccleston stepped up and scored the spot-kick just before half-time.
The game also saw good performances from Peter Gulacsi in the Liverpool Reserves goal, Robbie Threlfall in defence and a promising display from striker David Amoo.
The result means John McMahon’s side have won their last seven consecutive games, six of which have been in the Barclays Premier Reserve North Division.
Liverpool Reserves: Gulacsi, Mendy (Kohlert 85), Threlfall, Palsson, Mavinga, Irwin, Saric (Flora 89), Amoo, Eccleston, Poloskei, Kacaniklic (Brouwer 74).
Unused subs: Hansen, Weijl.
(This is Anfield)

Benitez banking on Torres gamble
Fernando Torres will carry the hopes of Liverpool on his shoulders on Wednesday night, with Rafael Benitez praying his gamble pays off.
Liverpool face group E leaders Lyon in the Stade Gerland knowing that only a victory will keep alive any realistic hopes of staying in the Champions League this season.
Liverpool are without Steven Gerrard, Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio, Albert Riera and Glen Johnson.
Torres, despite struggling with a hernia problem, will start the match and so too could Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani.
Centre-back Daniel Agger will face a late test on a back injury, and Liverpool could well have teenage full-back Stephen Darby in the side.
Benitez says: "Fernando is improving, we do not want him to have an operation so we are managing his fitness carefully.
"But he is getting better. He had some pain after he played, and scored, against Manchester United. But he was better after the Fulham game at the weekend, although he could still feel something wrong.
"I hope that he will be even better for this match. I said recently that 80 per cent of Fernando can win matches, I hope that is the case again."
(TEAMtalk)

Gerrard still rues Alonso's exit
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was "devastated" when Xabi Alonso left Anfield and admits the Reds have really missed the Spanish midfielder.
Gerrard, who is currently injured and misses Wednesday night's Champions League clash with Lyon, forged a good understanding with Alonso in midfield.
Alonso moved on to Real Madrid in the summer, since when Liverpool have struggled for form in the Premier League and Champions League.
It was a move which hit Gerrard hard.
"Devastated, yeah. Devastated. But there was nothing I could do about it," he told FourFourTwo magazine.
"Xabi said a long time ago that he wanted another chapter in his career and finally he got it and his team-mates and the coaches couldn't stand in his way. We just have to say thanks and move forward without him."
Liverpool recouped around £30million for 27-year-old Alonso, and spent most of that on bringing replacement Alberto Aquilani to Anfield
from Roma.
Aquilani missed the first two months of the season due to injury and Liverpool have already lost seven matches.
Gerrard knew it would take Liverpool time to adapt to life without Alonso, who in a playmaker role had a vital duty in Rafael Benitez's team.
Gerrard said: "It's always going to be different when you lose one of the best players in the world - and people are finally realising that's what he is, on the back of his form for Real Madrid and the difference in us from
last year.
"We've got other midfielders here doing a good job but it will take a while before Alonso's out of our system because he was such a top player."
(TEAMtalk)

Mancini denies pushing
for Liverpool job
Former Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini has denied interest in the Liverpool job.
Mancini has been linked with Rafa Benitez's job at Liverpool after getting a release from his contract at Inter.
Asked about the prospect of being hired either by Real Madrid or Liverpool, Mancini said: “At the moment there has not been anything, but when you talk about coaches and about a team in difficulty, the names of those who are available always come out.
“We will see if something arrives and then we will evaluate it.”
(triballfootball.com)         

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