Lille 1 Liverpool 0: match report

By Rory Smith in Lille 800PM GMT eleven March 2010

Trudging off Liverpool"s players walk toff after better to Lille in the first-leg of their Europa League last-16 compare Photo ACTION IMAGES

Liverpool would be forgiven for feeling they have been here before. A professional, volatile arrangement on a cold French night dismantled by one trip of concentration, one impulse where their fitness did not hold. For Lyon, review Lille, and djà vu all over again.

Rafael Benitez, at least, can take condolence in the actuality that Eden Hazards weird set upon here might not have such apocalyptic consequences as the Lisandro Lopez idea that did for their Champions League hopes in the Stade Gerland in November. Liverpool have a possibility at emancipation subsequent week.

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The Liverpool physical education instructor will additionally be gratified by a arrangement that was, at least, vastly higher to the contemptible fall at Wigan on Monday. His side might have been beaten, but for once, all is not severe hazard and gloom.

Contrary to ubiquitous perception, Liverpools players are not, for the majority part, unexpected not in in talent. They have not, overnight, simply turn a bad team. This is a side, after all, that swept majority of Europe in reserve this time last year. Benitezs consistent evoking of the new past might seem, at times, irrelevant, or desperate, or both, but his confusion at his sides passing is understandable.

It usually shows what certainty - or rather, a finish miss of it - can do. Faith and idea have left from Anfield. In their absence, there is usually doubt.

Liverpools players do not certitude each other. They do not certitude themselves. They do not certitude the ball, or the representation - though, in the latter case, they at slightest had great reason here - and they do not certitude their tactics, their system, or their fate.

It is clear in roughly each thoroughfare of their play. Passes are uncertain, shy and usually backwards. Shots are snatched at, clearances agricultural, and transformation limited, as players prioritise their defensive duties over the possibility of attack. It is an bullheaded problem, and one that can usually by solved by winning games. Games can usually be won, though, once it is overcome. Quite the Catch 22.

That does not mean, though, that when they dont think about their troubles and strife, Liverpool are not able of moments of quality, flashes of boundless recollection.

After roving their hosts early storm, desirous by a liquid arrangement and the considerable aggressive contingent of the much-coveted Hazard, Ludovic Obraniak and Pierre-Alain Frau, Liverpool began to claim themselves.

Fernando Torres, ominous from deep, expelled Ryan Babel, perfectionist a excellent shifting plunge in to from the soaring centre-back Adil Rami. The Spanish general offering the Dutchman a possibility to set free himself, the span slicing by Lilles counterclaim with a excellent sell of passes usually for Babel, enjoying one of his some-more prolific evenings, to fire at Mickael Landreaus legs.

Torres, too, went close, his header from Glen Johnsons cranky sketch Landreau in to a intelligent low dive, sandwiching dual excellent efforts from the resigned Steven Gerrard.

Rudy Garcias team, though, as befits a side keeping gait with Bordeaux, Lyon and Marseille in a typically fascinating French pretension race, were not but threat. Hazard, in particular, worried a shaken backline all night, the peep of his yellow boots a consistent pointer of danger.

It was the Belgian general that staid the game, if not the tie. Lille had progressively seized the beginning in a finely-balanced second half, Fraus fizzing 25-yard shot severe Pepe Reinas knuckles prior to Daniel Agger roughly incited Florent Balmonts cranky in to his own net, whilst Yohan Cabayes suppositional try flashed usually over.

Just as it seemed Liverpool would escape, Hazard struck, defeat a free-kick low from the left opposite Reinas goal, narrowly over a host of heads and in to the far corner.

Benitez, though, knows these days he contingency be grateful for small mercies. A goalless pull would have left his side with most the same task, of scoring at Anfield, and besides, it could have been extremely worse, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang attack the post - around Aggers behind - hardly a impulse after Hazards goal.

Match details

Lille (4-3-3) Landreau; Beria, Chedjou, Rami, Emerson; Balmont, Cabaye (Dumont 73), Mavuba; Hazard, Frau (Aubameyang 77) Obraniak (Toure 83). Subs Butelle (g), Vandam, Souare, Souquet.Booked Aubameyang.Liverpool (4-2-3-1) Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua; Lucas, Mascherano; Kuyt (El Zhar 88), Gerrard, Babel (Riera 73); Torres. Booked Insua, Torres. Subs Cavalieri (g), Aquilani, Kyrgiakos, Ngog, Kelly.Referee Claus Bo Larsen.