Last minute leveller rocks Reds

Liverpool came so close to a Champions League miracle in Lyon but saw their qualification hopes take another hit thanks to Lisandro Lopez's last-gasp leveller.

A stunning Ryan Babel goal gave the Reds the lead with only seven minutes left, and a victory would have kept them in with a realistic chance of still qualifying for the last 16.
 
But Lisandro grabbed an equaliser in the last minute to give Lyon the draw they needed to qualify and left Liverpool's hopes hanging by a thread. 
   
Liverpool were able to call on defender Daniel Agger for this crunch Champions League Group E clash in the Stade Gerland, with the Dane having recovered sufficiently from a back problem to return for the Anfield club's injury-hit side.
 
Fernando Torres was also in the starting line-up, while Alberto Aquilani was on the bench, Andriy Voronin partnering Torres up front.
 
Lyon, with a 100 per cent record at the top of the group, made two changes from the side that won at Liverpool a fortnight ago. Michel Bastos and Bafetimbi Gomis came in for Ederson and Sidney Govou, who were both in the bench.
 
Torres, frankly, looked barely able to run, and certainly with nothing like his usual mobility.
 
The occasional sprint when needed was about his limit such is the severity of the serious groin injury he is carrying.
 
But when he found a yard of space in the Lyon box, he almost put Liverpool ahead after 12 minutes.
 
Emiliano Insua swung over a cross from the left, and the Spaniard met it first time eight yards out to force a fine point-blank save from Hugo Lloris.
 
Liverpool were defending deep and in numbers, desperate not to concede early while Lyon had plenty of possession.
 
They moved the ball around crisply and Bastos tested Jose Reina from 20 yards.
 
The giant Gomis was finding far too much space against Sotiris Kyrgiakos, and had Reina stretching again with a 25-yarder after 15 minutes.
 
Another Insua cross two minutes later gave Dirk Kuyt the chance of a clever lob, again Lloris needing to be at his best to touch the ball over the bar.
 
The French side then lost Anthony Reveillere with an injured left leg, Lamine Gassama taking over after 18 minutes.
 
A foul on Torres deep in his own half presented Liverpool with their third decent chance of the half.
 
Javier Mascherano's quick free-kick cleared Lyon's back line and allowed Voronin a clear run at goal.
 
His shot was low, but again Lloris was up to the task, blocking the effort with his legs.
 
Torres was more sure of himself by now and involved far more in the build-up play.
 
Agger was booked after 33 minutes for blocking Gomis' run on the halfway line, with Lisandro cautioned for a foul on Kuyt a minute later.
 
Next to limp out of the fray for Lyon was Miralem Pjanic after 39 minutes to be replaced by Ederson.
 
Lyon started the second period with a quicker tempo, and Lisandro hooked over an Aly Cissokho cross. The full-back's next cross saw Bastos head over the far angle.
 
The match was now unbelievably tense, one mistake could ruin a creditable performance by Liverpool.
 
And Lyon were increasing the pressure to grab the goal that would put them into the last 16.
 
As Liverpool pressed forward, the gaps were appearing behind them, and Gomis looked increasingly dangerous.
 
Liverpool's first change came after 67 minutes when Ryan Babel replaced Voronin, Torres being left on this time.
 
Then Lloris made yet another stunning save, turning away Lucas' effort with his left hand with Kuyt following up with an overhead shot that was kicked off the line.
 
Lyon brought on Govou for Gomis, before Reina had to make his first serious save of the night, blocking a Lisandro effort from close range.
 
Liverpool were now playing with four men up front and Lisandro got away again after 78 minutes, turning Agger and then firing a curling shot just wide of the far post.
 
Torres' misplaced header gave Bastos another chance to run at Liverpool's defence, his shot being deflected for a corner.
 
But Liverpool broke from defence after a painful bout of head tennis and grabbed a sensational goal after 83 minutes.
 
Yossi Benayoun spun the ball out to the left for Babel, who cut inside to unleash a thunderous drive into the top corner from 30 yards, before being engulfed by his team-mates.
 
Three minutes from the end Torres was finally taken off, David Ngog taking over up front.
 
But, with only seconds left, Liverpool's dream took another hammer blow. Lisandro got past Insua in the box and lifted his shot over Reina for the equaliser.
 
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