Football: Lyon loss leaves Benitez facing defining moment
| DATE: 2009-10-21 | PRINT | SHARE
The former European champions must win their final three group games to have a hope of advancing to the Champions League knockout stage following an injury-time winner from Cesar Delgado at Anfield.
Maxime Gonalons had earlier equalised a first half goal from Yossi Benayoun and the dramatic winner inflicted a fourth successive defeat on Liverpool for the first time since 1987.
Now, with advancement in Europe looking a tall order, Liverpool face their bitter local rivals, and defending Premier League champions, with Torres rated doubtful, along with Johnson, who pulled out just before kick-off against Lyon and Gerrard, who re-injured a groin problem after 25 minutes of the game.
"It is something we have to do," said Benitez when asked how he intends to lift his slumping club.
"We have to prepare the players, push them, prepare as always and keep going. It's a question of doing things properly and having the confidence we can do it. Today, I would say, with some of the chances, everything could have been different.
"We have to prepare for the next game, that's our job and we will do it. As soon as I have finished this press conference, we will start and try and be ready. My staff and, I'm sure, the players will be there for me to help me, along with everyone who wants to see Liverpool winning."
Pressure is certainly mounting on Benitez, who has long divided opinion among Liverpool supporters. Against Lyon, his decision to replace goalscorer Benayoun with Andriy Voronin was greeted with a chorus of abuse from home fans.
"Fans know Yossi is a good player," said Benitez.
"I felt he was a little bit tired and I wanted to use fresh legs and add quality. You could understand, Yossi is a good player and the fans would have been happy to see him on the pitch.
"It was a difficult game for us. Before the game, we lost Glen Johnson, then Steve Gerrard and Martin Kelly were injured. Yet, still we were winning and we had chances. It's really disappointing. We could have won."
Benitez claimed he will not know the status of the injured Gerrard, Torres and Johnson until further tests although the initial status of the trio would be classified as "doubtful" and the manager insisted he had no regrets about selecting Gerrard, who had missed the weekend defeat at Sunderland with the same groin problem.
"It wasn't a risk. He wanted to play, the doctors said he was okay and he was training okay for the last two days. Sometimes, it's luck, sometimes you never know."
Liverpool now know that, having lost their last group game at Fiorentina, even three victories may not be enough for them to advance to the next phase although the manager remains as upbeat as could be expected.
"We have done it before and we have to do the same," said Benitez.
"We have to be ready for the next game, try and win that, then the same with the other two. We have done it before, we have to have the confidence we can do it again."
Lyon now look as good as in the next stage although coach Claude Puel was suitably eager to downplay over-confidence.
"There is still a lot of work to do," he insisted.
"Liverpool are going to come to us determined to win because we know they have to win. But we are going to savour the victory tonight and enjoy the moment, it's a great feeling. It is great to put in a good performance at this historic stadium. You can sense the history as soon as you walk in here and it was superb.
"It was great news for the club and a good performance from the team. I would have preferred not to concede a goal but we gave a good account of ourselves throughout the game."
The only sour part of a memorable evening for Lyon was an injury to defender Cris who was taken to hospital for precautionary x-rays after a clash of heads.
"He was knocked out," said Puel. "But the first news from hospital is good and he will continue to be observed."
| DATE: 2009-10-21 | PRINT | SHARE
PARIS, Oct 20, 2009 (AFP) - Rafa Benitez faces what could prove to be the definining moment of his Liverpool managerial reign against Manchester United on Sunday, possibly without an injured international trio of Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson in the wake of Tuesday's 2-1 home defeat by Lyon.
The former European champions must win their final three group games to have a hope of advancing to the Champions League knockout stage following an injury-time winner from Cesar Delgado at Anfield.
Maxime Gonalons had earlier equalised a first half goal from Yossi Benayoun and the dramatic winner inflicted a fourth successive defeat on Liverpool for the first time since 1987.
Now, with advancement in Europe looking a tall order, Liverpool face their bitter local rivals, and defending Premier League champions, with Torres rated doubtful, along with Johnson, who pulled out just before kick-off against Lyon and Gerrard, who re-injured a groin problem after 25 minutes of the game.
"It is something we have to do," said Benitez when asked how he intends to lift his slumping club.
"We have to prepare the players, push them, prepare as always and keep going. It's a question of doing things properly and having the confidence we can do it. Today, I would say, with some of the chances, everything could have been different.
"We have to prepare for the next game, that's our job and we will do it. As soon as I have finished this press conference, we will start and try and be ready. My staff and, I'm sure, the players will be there for me to help me, along with everyone who wants to see Liverpool winning."
Pressure is certainly mounting on Benitez, who has long divided opinion among Liverpool supporters. Against Lyon, his decision to replace goalscorer Benayoun with Andriy Voronin was greeted with a chorus of abuse from home fans.
"Fans know Yossi is a good player," said Benitez.
"I felt he was a little bit tired and I wanted to use fresh legs and add quality. You could understand, Yossi is a good player and the fans would have been happy to see him on the pitch.
"It was a difficult game for us. Before the game, we lost Glen Johnson, then Steve Gerrard and Martin Kelly were injured. Yet, still we were winning and we had chances. It's really disappointing. We could have won."
Benitez claimed he will not know the status of the injured Gerrard, Torres and Johnson until further tests although the initial status of the trio would be classified as "doubtful" and the manager insisted he had no regrets about selecting Gerrard, who had missed the weekend defeat at Sunderland with the same groin problem.
"It wasn't a risk. He wanted to play, the doctors said he was okay and he was training okay for the last two days. Sometimes, it's luck, sometimes you never know."
Liverpool now know that, having lost their last group game at Fiorentina, even three victories may not be enough for them to advance to the next phase although the manager remains as upbeat as could be expected.
"We have done it before and we have to do the same," said Benitez.
"We have to be ready for the next game, try and win that, then the same with the other two. We have done it before, we have to have the confidence we can do it again."
Lyon now look as good as in the next stage although coach Claude Puel was suitably eager to downplay over-confidence.
"There is still a lot of work to do," he insisted.
"Liverpool are going to come to us determined to win because we know they have to win. But we are going to savour the victory tonight and enjoy the moment, it's a great feeling. It is great to put in a good performance at this historic stadium. You can sense the history as soon as you walk in here and it was superb.
"It was great news for the club and a good performance from the team. I would have preferred not to concede a goal but we gave a good account of ourselves throughout the game."
The only sour part of a memorable evening for Lyon was an injury to defender Cris who was taken to hospital for precautionary x-rays after a clash of heads.
"He was knocked out," said Puel. "But the first news from hospital is good and he will continue to be observed."
