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Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard - Source: Reuters -
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Liverpool's hopes of progressing to the knockout stages of the
Champions League suffered a serious blow after Cesar Delgado hit a
stoppage-time winner to hand Olympique Lyon a 2-1 victory on
Wednesday.
The five-times European champions had overcome the loss of captain
Steven Gerrard, who lasted 24 minutes in his comeback game before
limping off injured, to take a 41st minute lead through Yossi
Benayoun.
But Lyon substitute Maxime Gonalons headed a 72nd minute equaliser
before Delgado's late winner stunned Rafa Benitez's side.
"It was a deserved victory, we deserved what we got," Lyon coach
Claude Puel told reporters.
"There's still lots of work to do though. Obviously Liverpool are
going to come to our place to win because they have got to
win.
"But we're going to savour the moment.
"Liverpool were strong to start with and put us under a lot of
pressure, but we managed to remain calm and strong at the
back."
Liverpool are in danger of dropping into the Europa League after
falling three-points behind second-placed Fiorentina in Group E.
Lyon have a maximum nine points with Fiorentina on six, Liverpool
three and Debrecen yet to register a point after three
games.
Torres missing
Liverpool were without influential striker Fernando Torres for the
second successive game due to injury and Benitez rued the absence
of the Spaniard.
"We had too many problems before the game with injuries," he
said.
"But we still managed to take the lead and we still managed to
create chances."
Liverpool looked in control after Benayoun's fourth goal of the
season four minutes before halftime.
Substitute Fabio Aurelio, Gerrard's replacement, delivered a cross
into the Lyon danger area which missed everyone before eventually
falling for Benayoun to slot home.
From struggling to carve out a chance, Liverpool almost doubled
their lead moments later when 19-year-old Martin Kelly, making his
first senior start in the absence of injured England fullback Glen
Johnson, delivered a pin-point cross for Aurelio who was denied by
a magnificent save by Hugo Lloris.
Lyon turned the game on its head with two goals in the final 12
minutes thanks to two substitutes.
Gonalons headed the equaliser after Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina had
pulled off two superb saves before Delgado hit a dramatic winner
from Sidney Govou's cross.
Liverpool have now lost four successive games, two in the Champions
League and two in the Premier League, and the final whistle was
greeted by a chorus of boos.
Champions League collated results
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