Benítez looking for upturn in fortunes

After three successive defeats, Rafael Benítez has called on Liverpool FC to lift the gloom at Anfield by beating Olympique Lyonnais in UEFA Champions League Group E. Liverpool trail their French opponents by three points after losing to ACF Fiorentina on Matchday 2 and though Fernado Torres is still injured, with Steven Gerrard back in the side Benítez is hoping they can put Saturday's reverse at Sunderland AFC behind them. Lyon, who have won both their games so far, also come into the match on the back of a domestic loss and coach Claude Puel believes "it's a good chance for both teams to bounce back".

Quotes
Rafael Benítez, Liverpool manager
You can guarantee that if we win against Lyon the mood will change. When you are not winning, to play another game quickly and have the opportunity to change things is the best thing. I have a lot of confidence because we are a good team. We have some problems with injuries but the squad is good enough to win some games. A positive result would be massive for our confidence. The Champions League is a different competition and the players know the fans will be behind them, so it can be a big boost for us. [Steven Gerrard] has been training, so I think he'll be available. We've been having problems with injuries all season so having Gerrard fit is big for us. [Fernando Torres] is still not ready. Lyon are a good team with good players and experience in the Champions League so we know it's going to be a tough game.

Claude Puel, Lyon coach
We must start well; we know it can be dangerous not to do so in important games. We do have one or two problems defensively as far as injuries are concerned, but we've got enough players to cover that. It's important we play our own game and try to impose our style. We know we can play at a high standard. We're kind of all square in a way, as we're both coming off defeats at the weekend, so it's a good chance for both to bounce back. I'd rather have come here with Liverpool in the midst of an excellent run, as they're almost obliged to win. It makes our task more difficult but motivates us more as well. Even if Torres doesn't play they've got plenty of people who can come in and do an excellent job, like Benayoun, Babel, Riera, Kuyt and many others. We've started the group really well with two wins out of two and if we come away with a good result it makes things very positive for us in terms of going further in the competition.

Weekend results
17/10/09 Sunderland AFC 1-0 Liverpool
(Bent 5)

• It was Liverpool's third successive loss in all competitions, the first time that has happened since defeats by Manchester United FC, Burnley FC and Southampton FC in January 2005. It was also Liverpool's fourth Premier League defeat of the season; they only lost twice in the whole of last term.

17/10/09 Lyon 0-2 FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
(Faty 17, Privat 89)

• Lisandro started on his return from injury as Lyon's 13th competitive game of the season yielded their first defeat.

• Summer signings have accounted for 16 of Lyon's 28 goals in all competitions.

Team news
• Liverpool
Out: Fernando Torres (adductor), Alberto Aquilani (ankle), Andrea Dossena (groin), Sotiris Kyrgiakos (knee)
Doubtful: Steven Gerrard (groin)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: none

• Lyon
Out: Anderson (knee, calf, shoulder), Jean-Alain Boumsong (groin), Mathieu Bodmer (groin)
Doubtful: Michel Bastos (ankle), César Delgado (thigh)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: none

• All of Lyon's centre-backs are injured except for captain Cris, who was doubtful to face Sochaux due to groin pain. The Brazilian was ultimately passed fit to partner Jérémy Toulalan.

Background
• Although Liverpool have never faced Lyon before, they boast a strong home record against French opposition. The solitary reverse in an eleven-match sequence that includes nine wins came against Olympique de Marseille on 3 October 2007.

• Lyon have won just once on English soil – a 1-0 success at Blackburn Rovers FC in the 1998/99 UEFA Cup first round, a result that set up a 3-2 aggregate triumph. The Ligue 1 side lost 1-0 at Manchester United FC on their most recent visit in March 2008.

• Yet Lyon can take confidence from a fine recent away record in the UEFA Champions League group stage, winning ten and losing just two of 15 UEFA Champions League group games on the road since 2004/05.

Did you know?
• Gérard Houllier served both clubs as manager, Liverpool from 1998 to 2004 and Lyon from 2005 to 2007.