Liverpool came so close to a Champions League miracle in Lyon but saw their qualification hopes take another hit thanks to Lisandro Lopez's last-gasp leveller to secure a 1-1 draw.
A stunning Ryan Babel goal gave the Reds the lead with only seven minutes left, and a victory would have kept them in with a realistic chance of still qualifying for the last 16.
But Lisandro grabbed an equaliser in the last minute to give Lyon the draw they needed to qualify and left Liverpool's hopes hanging by a thread.
Fernando Torres found a yard of space in the box and almost had Liverpool ahead after 12 just minutes. Emiliano Insua swung over a cross from the left, and the striker met it first-time eight yards to force a fine point-blank save from Hugo Lloris, who was to deny Liverpool twice more before the break.
Another Insua cross gave Dirk Kuyt the chance of a clever lob, again Lloris needing to be at his best to touch the ball over the bar.
Liverpool's third decent chance of the half came after a foul on Torres deep in his own half. Javier Mascherano's quick free-kick cleared Lyon's back line and allowed Andriy Voronin a clear run at goal. His shot was low, but again Lloris was up to the task, blocking the effort with his legs.
Lyon started the second period with a quicker tempo, and Lisandro hooked over an Aly Cissokho cross. The full-back's next cross saw Michel Bastos head over the far angle.
As Liverpool pressed forward, the gaps were appearing behind them, and Bafetimbi Gomis looked increasingly dangerous.
But the Reds broke from defence after a painful bout of head tennis to get the ball away and grabbed a sensational goal after 83 minutes. Yossi Benayoun spun the ball out to the left for Babel, who cut inside to unleash a thunderous drive into the top corner from 30 yards, before being engulfed by his team-mates.
However, with just seconds left, Liverpool's dream crashed. Lisandro got past Insua in the box and lifted his shot over Reina for the equaliser.
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""to all liverpool fans: dont let rafa go he is the best thing to happen to liverpool because he is so brilliant. he gets rid of your best players, doesnt win ANYTHING,""
So a Champions League and F.A Cup is nothing then?
""current trophies are the only ones worth talking about""
So Chelsea and Arsenal are no good either then? No League title for either for years and no Champs Leagues EVER.
What price Benitez now?
A hill of beans?
A pot to pi ss in?
A one legged man at an ar se kicking party?
jaksparro1...
go to bed silly,drowned your sorrows..
like the sayin goes,S.hite happens & i glad it did...3 cheers..clap..clap..clap..
'In Rafa We Trust'..lol....
R.I.P LOserpool...the final coffin have been nailed!!..amen..
i shall sprayed my 'Golden Showers/$$$$$ Shot' in respect of your Champions League misery..condolences...imao..
No life..No spirit..No fight...No chance in Hell...Condemmed!!!..Au Revoir...
We're all Laughing all the way @ STRETFORD END!!!....Hallelujah....Rejoiced..
a season to be jolly indeed,with Christmas barely up...3 cheers..lol.....
'In Rafa We Trust'..lol...:)...
R.I.P LOserpool...the final coffin have been nailed!!..amen..
i shall sprayed my 'Golden Showers' in respect of your misery..condolences!!!...
No life..No spirit..No fight...No chance in Hell...Condemmed!!!..Au Revoir...
We're all Laughing all the way @ STRETFORD END!!!....Hallelujah....Rejoiced..
a season to be jolly indeed...lol.....
'In Rafa We Trust'..lol...:)...
current trophies are the only ones worth talking about - its like saying england is best in the world coz they won the world cup in 1966
Isn't it funny we have not won the league for 20 years yet still theres more silverware in our cabinet than down at old toilet.....even WAYNE the poor little mite seems so full of jealousy for what we have,maybe he suffers with sps (short person syndrome) as he feels the need to shout so much.
ps WAYNE its fiorentina not FLORENTINA....you are getting confused with florence from the magic roundabout you're favourite programme....boing time for bed WAYNE....two short planks springs to mind!!!
We played well and deserved the win but S**t happens,you only have to go to old toilet once a fortnight to witness it.....father xmas will be coming soon and perhaps he'll leave you a BRAYNE WAYNE,thats got a certain ring about it WAYNE THE (no) BRAYNE.
Alternately WAYNE you could team up with ryan.allen07 as i hear they are making a sequel to dumb and dumber....guess it will be a fight for who gets what part lol:)
Hey Wayne is your last name Rooney or are you one of those sad bastar*s named after someone you want to be like and have no chance of ever getting near,then again you would have to be as much a child as your comment. GET A LIFE PAL
ryan sarcasm is the last bastion of the ill advised and uneducated ,Liverpool played well and drew .That my friend is football ,I suspect you like the same teams to win all and always.Grow up my friend it is only a game.
HAHAHAHAHAHA COME ON FLORENTINA WIN LYON IN ITALY KNOCK THE SCUM LOSERPOOL OUT HAHAHAHA
IN RAFA WE TRUST NEVER TO BING FUC*ALL BACK TO SHIIITEFIELD NO TROPHIES AGAIN THIS SEASON HAHAHAHAHA
WE LOVE RAFA AND THE YANKS ""FACT""
GLOOOOOORY GLOOOOOORY MAN UTD
IN BENITAsssssssssssWE TRUST!!!!! LOL.
to all liverpool fans: dont let rafa go he is the best thing to happen to liverpool because he is so brilliant. he gets rid of your best players, doesnt win ANYTHING, and only remembers what steven gerrard ordered for his dinner
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