Reds hope to get back on track

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.

Dry spell

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. Without Torres and Gerrard at Sunderland,Liverpool lacked an intent in attack,and the Spanish striker is ruled out against Lyon as well.

But an optimistic Carragher suggested good results against their French opponents and at home to Manchester United next weekend could turn the season around. “We are looking to the next game,” he said. “The tie against Lyon will be in front of our own supporters. It’s a chance to restore some confidence before we take on Manchester United on Sunday.”

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.

The seven-times French champions have defensive worries with Jean-Alain Boumsong,Mathieu Bodmer and Brazilian Cleber Anderson all sidelined. Liverpool will recall Javier Mascherano to their midfield.

Barcelona up against Kazan

Barcelona are only a point ahead at the top of Group F as they host Russian side Rubin Kazan on Tuesday. Barca come off a failure to win for the first time in this season’s Spanish League,held 0-0 on Saturday by Valencia without Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. They are a point ahead of Dynamo Kiev,who visit Inter Milan.

Sevilla’s impressive start to the season sees them top of Group G with six points from two games and a four-point lead over Stuttgart,their opponents on Tuesday. In the other group match,Rangers host Romania’s Unirea Urziceni,the two clubs level on one point.

Arsenal fly to Holland to face AZ Alkmaar without Theo Walcott,who faces 3-r weeks out af action after injuring his medial ligament against Birmingham.