Lyon captain Cris downplays Liverpool’s injury problems

LYON: Lyon captain Cris downplayed Liverpool’s injury crisis prior to their Champions League meeting today, which could send the French side into the next round and the five-time champions out. 

Liverpool trail Lyon by six points in Group E and will be on the brink of elimination from the competition if they lose at Stade Gerland and Fiorentina defeat Hungarian outsiders Debrecen in Tuscany. 

The English giants crashed to their fifth league defeat in 11 matches when they went down 3-1 at Fulham on Saturday and they could be without up to 12 players through injury against Lyon. 

Talismanic captain Steven Gerrard has already been ruled out with a groin injury and Spanish international striker Fernando Torres is short of full fitness. 

Cris, however, says his side cannot afford to pay attention to the speculation concerning the kind of team that Reds coach Rafa Benitez will be able to send out. 

“Liverpool will give everything to stay alive in the Champions League, whether it’s with Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres or without them,” said Cris, who inherited the captain’s armband after former skipper Sidney Govou was punished for an unauthorised night out. 

“We’re playing on our home pitch against an experienced team that will be motivated. They’re a team used to qualifying and they still can, even if they’ve started the season badly.” 

A draw will send Lyon through to the knockout phase and Cris is well aware that Lyon have not qualified for the next round with such ease since the Gerard Houllier era between 2005 and 2007, when they twice made the quarter-finals. 

“At that time the team were already established whereas today it’s still developing,” said the 32-year-old Brazilian centreback. 

“It’s very different. The first objective is qualification. Then we’ll be able to go after first place.” 

Houllier’s time at Lyon coincided with a revival in the European fortunes of his previous club, with Benitez leading Liverpool to a memorable victory on penalties over AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final and a defeat to the same opponents in the 2007 final. 

The Spaniard was heralded for returning Liverpool to the top table of European football after decades of under-achievement but he has come under pressure after a seriously under-whelming start to the current campaign. 

“These are tough times and it hurts a lot,” said centreback Jamie Carragher, sent off alongside team-mate Philipp Degen in the defeat at Fulham. 

“This is un-Liverpool like. But it is not just the fans who are disappointed, it is the players, the staff and the manager. 

“We have got to get back on track with Lyon, which is another massive game.” — AFP