Another defining week for Benitez as Liverpool face exit

The five-time champions travel to France to play Lyon knowing that defeat would spell the end of their hopes, a financial disaster for one of Europe's big clubs.

 Only once, in 2002/3, have Liverpool failed to make it out of the group stage and having won it in 2005 and finished as runners-up in 2007, going out at the first time of asking would be a dark period in their proud European history.

 Benitez has come in for criticism from many quarters in recent weeks and his side go into the Lyon match having lost six of their past seven matches, dropping them nine points off the pace in the league and seeing them in trouble in their Champions League group.

 The 2-0 win over league champions Manchester United ten days ago gave the Spaniard some respite from the critics but the weekend defeat at Fulham and a mounting injury crisis at the club has placed even more significance on the Lyon match.

 The French side beat Liverpool at Anfield with a last-minute strike but though the knives are out for Benitez, goalkeeper Pepe Reina says the whole club must pull together to come through.

 "All of us have to keep everyone else's head up," the Spaniard said. "In weak moments, strong people have to appear. I want to be one of them and support my teammates if they need it.

 "The key is to stay together and not read the press. Belief is the word we need to use the most - belief in ourselves and our teammates. We were a bit unlucky on Saturday. We didn't play as bad as at other times. It was not even close to our worst game.

 "It's a tough moment but we have to stick together and try to sort things out on the pitch and in every single training session. We have pride in wearing this shirt and we have to defend it until the end.

 "Any defeat hurts someone with ambition and someone who is hungry for titles. But it doesn't matter how many times you fall down - what matters is how many times you get up and keeping trying to be the best.

 "That's what we have to do now. We have to go back to our principles, sort out the problems we're having and go back to being the Liverpool everyone wants."

   The problem for Benitez is his injuries, with captain Steven Gerrard almost certain to miss the match as he continues his recovery from a groin problem.

 Fernando Torres, who also has a niggling groin strain, is likely to be fit to start, while Glen Johnson should also return at full-back, but there are doubts over the fitness of centre-back Daniel Agger, who missed the defeat at Fulham.

DPA