After three consecutive defeats Liverpool's season is deflating before their eyes and only a convincing Champions League win at home to Olympique Lyon on Tuesday looks like lifting the gloom.
Saturday's 1-0 loss at Sunderland illustrated exactly how much Liverpool rely on Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, both of whom missed the game through injury, and the old adage that Lady Luck often abandons those who most need her.
Sunderland's winner, scored by Darren Bent, took a meaty deflection off of a beach ball that had bounced into the area, prompting howls of outrage from Liverpool's defenders and gales of laughter from fans up and down the country.
Far from blaming the errant beach ball, manager Rafa Benitez admitted his side were simply not good enough as they barely mustered an attack worth the name.
Defender Jamie Carragher has played down the talk of crisis on Merseyside but with four defeats in nine league matches, some feel Liverpool's title challenge is as good as over.
After stumbling to a 2-0 defeat in their last Champions League Group E outing against Fiorentina, even the consolation of a long run in Europe looks in jeopardy and Lyon will visit Anfield aiming for a potential knockout blow.
Worryingly for Benitez his side have failed to score in those three defeats and, apart from a decent spell in the 2-0 loss at Chelsea a fortnight ago, have rarely looked like doing so.
GROIN INJURIES
Benitez must hope that Torres and Gerrard both shake off the groin injuries that sidelined them at Sunderland -- without them they looked powderpuff.
But an optimistic Carragher suggested good results against Lyon and at home to Manchester United next weekend could turn the season around.
"Now is not the time to talk about the title. We are looking to the next game," he said.
"We now have the Champions League tie against Lyon which will be in front of our own supporters at Anfield. It's a chance to restore some confidence before we take on Manchester United next Sunday.
"We will stick together and work hard on the training ground to put things right. We know we've got a good team, good players and a good manager so we've got to have belief in ourselves and keep going."
Lyon arrive on Merseyside with their own problems having lost 2-0 at home to Sochaux on Saturday, their first league defeat of the season.
However, they are the pace-setters in the group after wins against Fiorentina and Debrecen and know that victory at Anfield would make them near certainties for the knockout round as well as leaving Liverpool facing elimination.
Coach Claude Puel said Liverpool remained a huge test for his side despite their domestic woes.
"Liverpool are the best you can find in Europe with Barcelona and Manchester United," Puel told reporters. "Even when they are going through a difficult period, you certainly can't write them off."
The seven-times French champions have defensive worries with Jean-Alain Boumsong, Mathieu Bodmer and Brazilian Cleber Anderson all sidelined which means France midfielder Jeremy Toulalan should play as central defender.
Liverpool will recall Javier Mascherano to their midfield after he started on the bench at Sunderland following his late return from international duty with Argentina.
Probable line-ups:
Liverpool: 25-Pepe Reina; 2-Glen Johnson, 23-Jamie Carragher, 5-Daniel Agger, 12-Fabio Aurelio; 15-Yossi Benayoun, 8-Steven Gerrard, 20-Javier Mascherano, 11-Albert Riera; 18-Dirk Kuyt, 9-Fernando Torres.
Lyon: 1-Hugo Lloris; 13-Anthony Reveillere, 3-Cris, 28-Jeremy Toulalan, 20-Aly Cissokho; 17-Jean Makoun, 6-Kim Kallstrom; 14-Sidney Govou, 8-Miralem Pjanic, 7-Michel Bastos; 9-Lisandro Lopez.
(Editing by Martyn Herman and Dave Thompson)
Comment 1 - 16 of 16
Benitez out, mourinho in.
It's hilarious that United fans have a go at other supporters for commenting on United articles, when they themselves are all over the comments on Liverpool articles. I would say stop being hypocrites, but being United supporters you probably wouldn't understand a big word like that.
Michael: WAKE UP and see the mess your team is in after your manager spent the 3rd largest amount of money in the league over the last 5 season. You are SHYTE! Fantasize about United some more you muppet.
ALL MAN UTD FANS F.UCK OFF
MAN UTD FANS ARE ALL @#$%
YOU WON 4-1 AND.................................................... ..YOU WON FFUK ALL ! ......SHIMPLES
post 10 maryjanny17..
hey Tranny,have you run out of 'panty liner' or are you still wearing that same 'stained panty liner' for the last 2 month for your PATHETHIC moans????..oh yeah you're still 17 & much to learn on 'puberty'....
to be honest,i bet you're a DISGUSTING Ugly looking flat chested/pimple T.wat,itching
'in a certain untamed bushy area' looking for a soulmate in desperation!!!..
grow up you silly girl,you're UNDERAGED!!!...
& you just got PUNK by a god damn beach ball!!!..
REALITY CHECK!!....F.UCK YOU!!!!....
anw Liver'POO' is 'Dead & Buried' much less a 'Comic Parody' as far as i am concerned!!!!...
anw,those bunch of 'KFC Chicken fans' just got PUNK by an INFAMOUS beach ball,
with Mr G spot face drawn all over,sayin....
'HIT ME BABY ONE MORE TIME,I'M A CAMERA KISSIN B.ASTARD,YES I'M!!..holla..SPIT..lol..
p.s:...
to all those bunch of hiding 'creepy crawlies' LOSERS..
purple aki,kop mania,johnsach27,foeyp,michael,darren m &
YOUR ENTIRE GENERATIONS OF SPINELESS/BRAINLESS/LOW INTELLECTUAL WEED SMOKING
'BIN DIPPERS'.....
F.UCK YOU.F.UCK YOUR CLUB.F.UCK YOUR FANS.F.UCK EVERYTHING THAT YOU STANDS FOR!!!!!...NO REMORSE..NO MERCY....
GGMU..IN UNITED WE TRUST!!!....STAMPED...
post 10 maryjanny17..
hey Tranny,have you run out of 'panty liner' or are you still wearing that same 'stained panty liner' for the last 2 month for your PATHETHIC moans????..oh yeah you're still 17 & much to learn on 'puberty'....
to be honest,i bet you're a DISGUSTING Ugly looking flat chested/pimple T.wat itching
'in a certain bushy area' loking for a soulmate!!!..
grow up you silly girl,you're UNDERAGED!!!...you just got PUNK by a god damn beach ball!!!..
REALITY CHECK!!....F.UCK YOU!!!!....
anw Liver'POO' is 'Dead & Buried' much less a 'Comic Parody' as far as i am concerned!!!!...
anw,those bunch of 'KFC Chicken fans' just got PUNK by an INFAMOUS beach ball,
with Mr G spot face drawn all over,sayin....
'HIT ME BABY ONE MORE TIME,I'M A CAMERA KISSIN B.ASTARD,YES I'M!!..holla..SPIT..lol..
p.s:...
to all those bunch of hiding 'creepy crawlies' LOSERS..
purple aki,kop mania,johnsach27,foeyp,michael,darren m &
YOUR ENTIRE GENERATIONS OF SPINELESS/BRAINLESS/LOW INTELLECTUAL WEED SMOKING
'BIN DIPPERS'.....
F.UCK YOU.F.UCK YOUR CLUB.F.UCK YOUR FANS.F.UCK EVERYTHING THAT YOU STANDS FOR!!!!!...NO REMORSE..NO MERCY....
GGMU..IN UNITED WE TRUST!!!....STAMPED...
rafa needs to loose the beard, he looks like the guy who stole woody in toy story.....come on man u fans buy the guy a chicken suit.....lol
arsenal for the title this year..provisional second place at the moment and we will rip west ham a new one this weekend.
want more on african football? visit africaplays.come (get a comprehensive update on african scorers across europe this weekend) africaplays.come
TO : Chrls79M'UTD4life..
Go FU.CK ur stupid mot.herf.uka! man U... Man u will nvr lift a trophy diz season.. i can assure dat u st.upid d.ick head...
f.uck ALL ur Stupid red devil fans too.. haha.. tell u wat.. ONLY 1 team can beat Man u.. 4-1 at old trafford..YES dats LIVERPOOL u FOOOOOLLSS.. wait n see Man u gonna cry diz sunday yo.. haha
Chrls79M'UTD4life nerver mind your turn is coming.Its just the begining.We will prevail and be top
G M #7 you got a point but please look at the resources now.No money to even start campaigning for good players.Rafa needs D Villa badly but how can he start with little or no money?We had hope of the S.Arabia Prince but Gills didnt finish with him.We hope things will change and Alonso's absence wont be felt so badly as it is.We will prevail friend.
Unfortunately I can easily see 6 straight losses.. Without Torres and SG we are absolute @#$%! Lyon will kill us and Manu will destroy us without those 2. Why people can't get see that the fat spaaniard has built mediocre @#$% squad is beyond me! FIRE RAFA NOW!!
you mancs wont be laughin sunday , bring it on . ha ha ha ha
it's a must win for liverpool, rafa will get a line up that can face man u. the match will be out with s.gerrard and f.torres
lose to Lyon will be a died situation when facing man u. and the next team is waiting are Arsenal
if he lose all the upcoming match then bye bye ..all dreams to lift the EPL
Go.....Arsenal
Looserpool will win nothing AGAIN! Face it scouse scum your team is washed up and as for youe manager he would be suited in a pair of large shoes and a red nose!
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