Lyon 1 Liverpool 1: Late show cancels out Babel wonder strike

Liverpool's Champions League dream for this season is hanging by a thread after a 1-1 draw with Olympique Lyon tonight.

The Reds took the lead in the 83rd minute courtesy of a wonder strike by Ryan Babel but were pulled level in stoppage time by a Lisandro Lopez effort, leaving them staring in the face of elimination from Europe's premier club competition following Fiorentina's 5-2 win over Debreceni.

Rafael Benitez fielded a strong side despite several injuries forcing some of his team to deputise in unfamiliar roles. Andriy Voronin attempted to fill the boots of captain Steven Gerrard when he was deployed behind lone striker Fernando Torres whilst Jamie Carragher was reunited with the right-back spot he occupied in his early days at Anfield.

Despite enjoying a spell of early possession, Lyon failed to break the deadlock. Michel Bastos had their first real chance but Pepe Reina was able to save comfortably. At the other end Dirk Kuyt forced Hugo Lloris to make a sprawling punch over the bar after he hooked a shot towards goal. On the half-hour mark, Javier Mascherano's precision free kick unleashed Voronin but the Ukrainian fired at the legs of Lloris after bursting into the area.

Liverpool started the second half the way they had gone into the break with Torres seeing his shot blocked after being played in by Voronin. On 68 minutes Yossi Benayoun's cross found Lucas Leiva unmarked at the far post but the midfielder was denied by a fantastic save by Lloris.

In the 83rd minute the deadline was finally broken after Babel received the ball from Benayoun and let fly with a right-footed shot that blasted into the top left-hand corner of the net.

The visitors' defence had looked a little shaky in the final third with Reina called into action after a poor backwards header by Sotirios Kyrgiakos allowed Lisandro to break into the box before Babel's opener.

But it was not long before the Argentine was successful in his efforts as Lyon pressed for an equaliser in stoppage time. More poor defending by Kyrgiakos gifted Lisandro a golden opportunity to break free and fire past Reina to send the Stade Gerland into ecstasy and deny Liverpool maximum points.

Final score: Lyon 1-1 Liverpool

Lyon: Lloris, Cissokho, Toulalan, Reveilliere (Gassama), Bastos, Kallstrom, Makoun, Pjanic (Ederson), Gomis (Govou). Subs not used: Vercoutre, Delgado, Tafer, Gonalons

Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Benayoun, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Voronin (Babel), Torres (Ngog). Subs not used: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Spearing, Darby, Ayala.

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