Liverpool will need to overcome a 1-0 first-leg defeat away to Lille to progress into the quarter-finals of the Europa League. A free-kick from Hazard six minutes from time evaded everyone in the box before nestling in the back of the net to hand the hosts a 1-0 advantage ahead of next Thursday’s return-leg at Anfield.

Fernando Torres started his first Europa League contest, playing the full 90 minutes. The Spaniard linked-up well with Babel, and the two came close to breaking the deadlock on several occasions, but despite the efforts of the Red number ‘9’and his teammates, the Merseysiders failed to find a way through.

The home side were first to try their luck, Cabaye calling Reina into action. A cross from Hazard then fizzed across the box as the Lille players in the box failed to get on the end of the attacker’s pass.

LOSC faded after a bright start, and Liverpool slowly came to life. On 16 minutes a good interchange between Fernando Torres and Babel was snuffed out in the Lille box- a sign of things to come.

Lucas Leiva and Mascherano were slowly winning the midfield battle as Liverpool began to dominate proceedings.Torres cleverly fed Babel, but the Dutchman’s effort was saved by Landreau, by far the busier of the two goalkeepers.

Gerrard then fired over, before having a shot blocked by the Lille keeper. Torres was the next to be denied, his header well-saved by the French goalie. The visitors had created enough chances in the first-half to warrant a half-time lead, but an inspired Landreau in the Lille goal had kept the Reds at bay.

The second-half was a more open contest. Hazard had the ball in the back of the net for the home side, but the goal was rightly ruled out for a previous infringement.
Babel was thwarted once again by Landreau, and at the other end Reina punched clear a fierce drive from Frau.

Lille grew in confidence as the game drew in, and their hunger paid off with the only goal of the game in the 84th minute. Hazard’s floated free-kick flew creeping in at the far post.

The La Ligue side came close to doubling their lead, but luckily for the Reds Agger managed to deflect Aubameyang’s shot onto the post. Gerrard and Torres threatened in the dying minutes but LOSC held on for an important first-leg victory ahead of the return at Anfield on March 18.


- Match Stats: Lille 1-0 Liverpool

Lille: Landreau, Emerson, Chedjou, Rami, Béria, Obraniak (Larsen Touré, 83), Balmont, Mavuba, Cabaye (Dumont, 73), Hazard, Frau (Aubameyang, 77)

Booked: Aubameyang

Goals: Hazard 84

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt (El Zhar, 88), Gerrard, Babel (Riera, 73), Torres

Booked: Insua, Torres