Olympique Lyon snatched a point in the last minute to secure a place in the last 16. The Reds needed a victory to keep qualification in their own hands, but Wednesday’s 1-1 draw now leaves them relying on other results to qualify from Group E. With just under ten minutes to go, Babel gave the visitors the lead with an excellent strike from 30 yards out. But just when it looked like Liverpool would be returning home with all three points, Lisandro Lopez grabbed an equaliser in the 90th minute.

Rafa Benitez named Fernando Torres in the starting eleven and the Spaniard played for 87 minutes before being replaced by Ngog. On an evening where the Red number ‘9’ was closely marked by the Lyon defenders, Torres was denied his 11th goal of the season by a good save from French keeper in the 12th minute. A yard either side of the keeper and it would have been 1-0 to Liverpool.

Hugo Lloris was called into action early on as Liverpool started the Group E clash brightly. Fernando Torres had an effort saved by the Lyon shotstopper who kept the Spaniard’s shot out with his legs.

Kuyt then had a shot tipped behind by the Olympique keeper as the Reds looked the better side in the opening exchanges.

With almost 20 minutes gone, Gomis had Lyon’s first shot on target. The Frenchman’s effort however was comfortably saved by Reina. The French side seemed content to sit back safe in the knowledge that a point would be enough to see the French outfit seal a top two finish.

On the half an hour mark Voronin shot straight at Lloris in Liverpool’s best chance of a goalless first-half.

The visitors were on top again at the start of the second-half, but once again Hugo Lloris came to Lyon's rescue. The shotstopper saved from Lucas Leiva before Dirk Kuyt's follow-up was cleared off the line. Fernando Torres had earlier seen a goalbound effort blocked by a combination of Toulalan and Cissokho.

Liverpool continued to dominate possession, and their persistence paid off with seven minutes remaining. Babel cut inside Gassama and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. The goal was the least the Reds deserved for all their pressure.

With three minutes remaining David Ngog was brought on by Rafa Benitez for Torres.

With the game now in the 90th minute, the Red back-line failed to clear a headed pass from Kallstrom leaving Lisandro Lopez with the easy job of shooting past Reina.

In the other group game Fiorentina beat Debrecen. The teams went in level at the break, 1-1, but the Italians stepped-up a gear in the second-half eventually running out 5-2 winners.


- Match Stats: Olympique Lyon 1-1 Liverpool

Lyon: Lloris, Reveillere, (Gassama, 18) Cris, Toulalan, Cissokho, Pjanic (Ederson, 40) Makoun, Kallstrom, Gomis (Govou, 73) Lopez, Michel Bastos

Booked: Lopez

Goals: Lopez 90

Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Lucas, Mascherano, Kuyt, Voronin (Babel, 67), Benayoun, Torres (Ngog, 87)

Booked: Agger

Goals: Babel 83