Reds suffer late loss

Liverpool have plenty of work to do to qualify for the Champions League knockout phase after they suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Group E leaders Lyon.

Yossi Benayoun put the hosts ahead in the 41st minute only for substitute Maxime Gonalons to head home a corner 18 minutes from the end and Cesar Delgado snatch the winner in added time.

More worryingly for manager Rafael Benitez ahead of the weekend visit of Manchester United was the sight of captain Steven Gerrard limping off midway through the first half with a recurrence of his groin injury.

Fernando Torres was again out, while Glen Johnson was missing with a groin injury. At least Gerrard was back - but that lasted only 25 minutes.

Teenager Martin Kelly, Whiston-born and academy produced, made his full debut at right-back. And there were signs of Liverpool defiance, a Dirk Kuyt headed disallowed for offside from Gerrard's deep cross. That was virtually the only contribution from the skipper, who trudged off to be replaced by Fabio Aurelio.

Aurelio had a powerful header saved by Hugo Lloris' left-hand from Kelly's run and cross, before Liverpool took a 41st minute lead.

Benayoun showed calmness to lift the ball over Lloris from eight yards, after Aurelio's cross evaded Kelly in the six-yard box.

Lyon sent on striker Bafetimbi Gomis to partner Lisandro Lopez in place of Honorato Ederson - and they began to stretch Liverpool. The pressure increased and Lyon equalised in the 72nd minute.

Liverpool failed to clear a corner, Jose Reina made two outstanding saves from Jeremy Toulalan and Sidney Govou before the ball reached substitute Gonalons, who dived to head home.

The hosts then lost young Kelly with an ankle injury, with Martin Skrtel taking over in a defence under increasing pressure. But the decider came in injury-time from substitute Delgado, arriving at the far post to sidefoot past Reina from Govou's cross.