Liverpool go into Matchday 4 of Champions League away to Olympique Lyon on Wednesday, kick-off at 19:45 hours (GMT), on the back of a mixed start to the Euro campaign. A win at home to Debrecen, followed by two defeats, away to Fiorentina and at home to Lyon, leave the Reds with an up-hill struggle to qualify from Group E.

For the key match against the French opponents, Liverpool will be without Steve Gerrard, who is sidelined by a groin problem, the club captain is also joined by Albert Riera, nursing a hamstring injury, and defender Martin Skrtel who has a muscle injury. Summer signing Alberto Aquilani returns to the squad after recovering from a virus; and although still not 100% fit, Fernando Torres was named in the Liverpool squad for Wednesday’s crunch match.

The Red number ‘9’ was included in the Liverpool starting eleven for last Saturday’s clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage. The forward, who was rested for the Carling Cup loss at Arsenal, scored an excellent volley from just outside the box. The goal was his tenth in the league and kept the striker top of the Premier League goal charts.

Lyon head into the clash at home to Liverpool on the back of a 1-0 win against arch rivals AS Saint-Etienne. Gomis grabbed the only goal of the game as the French side remained second in the Ligue behind leaders Girondins de Bordeaux.

In the corresponding Group E fixture at Anfield, Liverpool fell to a 2-1 defeat. The Reds went in at the break 1-0 up courtesy of a strike from Benayoun four minutes before the break. Gonalons equalised for the French outfit on 72 minutes, before Delgado stunned the home crowd with a goal in injury-time. Fernando Torres, who had failed to recover in time for the fixture, watched the game from the stands.

The defeat on Merseyside left Liverpool third with three points, three points behind Fiorentina, and six behind leaders Olympique Lyonnais. Hungarian side Debrecen are bottom of the group still searching for their first points.

Although the Anfield club have never played at the Gerland Stadium before, they boast an impressive recent record in France, having won on their last four visits. Come Wednesday, the Reds will be hoping to extend thewinning run on French soil to five games.

In the other Group E match, Debrecen travel to Italy to face second-placed Fiorentina.