Reds need flair for Anfield return

HOW very predictable. With Liverpool’s season lurching and lumbering, it was only to be expected a man named Hazard would prove their undoing.

Though the Reds' latest trip from Merseyside ended in another defeat, the differences between last night's setback in Lille - inflicted by Eden Hazard's free-kick - compared to the episode in Wigan could be easily seen; one was deserved, this one wasn't.

But now Liverpool are confronted with a huge problem; Anfield's influence in reversing European deficits is, of course, legendary but it will need far more than singing and shouting to carry Rafa Benitez's men through to the Europa League's last eight.

Liverpool, quite simply, have no option but to go for it when Lille make the return journey in six days yet you have to wonder whether they have the wherewithal to make that happen; once again last night, they looked a side devoid of attacking flair.

Should that remain to be the case, Liverpool's latest European odyssey will end with a whimper; while it will be a source of great amusement to the ridiculous Sam Allardyce, this, for all of the Red faith, is no laughing matter.

The support Liverpool received last night was nothing short of remarkable; Lille might only be a short hop across the Channel by air but the vast majority of Reds who ventured to northern France did so by road and rail.

Such loyalty deserves reward. Enjoyable away days this season have been rare and you could hardly blame those who have taken the decision recently to stop travelling.

Monday night was, for many, the straw that broke the camel's back yet here were more than 1,000 fans forking out £35 for a ticket plus the other expenses that are accrued when venturing into Europe - it can only be hoped their loyalty resonates in the dressing room.

That dressing room, however, has not been an especially pleasant place to be for much of the season and it is quite apparent negativity and frustration have reigned; rather than seeking solutions to myriad problems, blame has been the name of the game.

Why else would Benitez have declared ahead of this contest that he "doesn't like players showing disappointment with body language - it's not positive"? He's right - the manner in which heads have gone down or fingers have been jabbed has alarmed.

Wigan, in particular, was an especially dispiriting episode and while it was not really Dave Whelan's place to talk about Liverpool's current ills, much of what he said rang true.

Yet these players are the ones faced with the task of salvaging something from the season and the team Benitez named here was certainly strong enough to take a lead back to Merseyside for the return leg.

Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson would feature in the majority of Liverpudlians' best XI, while a portion would also clamour for the enigmatic Ryan Babel to be included thanks to his blistering pace, skill and shooting ability.

If only he put those gifts to use on a consistent basis, he could be a world beater yet all he does is exasperate; it's silly little things like posting pictures of the pitch on his Twitter website on the day of the game that leave you scratching your head.

Sure the pitch was deplorable, a sand-covered mess that should not have been deemed fit for UEFA use, but pulling such stunts only give his critics more ammunition, the accusation being his mind was not on the job.

Happily on this occasion, Babel was switched on from the first moment, bright and inventive and always a willing outlet, as Liverpool's defenders staged a rearguard action to keep the home side at bay; it was his best display in some time.

But there is no doubt Lille sensed Liverpool's vulnerability and they targeted the left-hand side, looking to exploit Emiliano Insua.

In many ways, though, the demands of this game suited Liverpool down to the ground; when the onus is on them to remain compact and tight, you very rarely fear for them - how many times have you seen results ground out away from home under Benitez?

Problems begin for the Reds when the onus is on them to do the pressing - think Wolverhampton, Reading, Blackburn and Portsmouth - but, in fairness, the longer the first half progressed, the more they looked capable of pilfering a reward.

A moment of ingenuity from Gerrard almost led to the skipper breaking the deadlock with a shot from 30 yards; Babel tested Mickael Landreau after a neat one-two with Fernando Torres, while the Spaniard saw a towering header saved by the Lille keeper.

Lille might have had more of the ball but Liverpool had little trouble holding them at bay and everything Pepe Reina - a figure of such reassurance - had to deal with was routine.

In the second period Liverpool started asking more and more questions as Babel stung Landreau's palms with a powerful shot and it was all hugely encouraging.

Then all their efforts unravelled. Hazard's free-kick drifted into the box but, with no Liverpool defender able to get their head to it, the ball squirmed into the far corner of the net.

Worse could have followed and had Pierre Aubameyang hit the target rather than strike a post moments after Hazard's strike, Liverpool would, in all probability, have been out of the competition.

As things stand, Benitez and Company have a chance to save themselves and enough evidence was provided here to suggest the deficit is by no means irretrievable. Whether that proves to be the case depends on which Liverpool turn up.

LILLE (4-5-1): Landreau; Beria, Chedjou, Rami, Emerson; Hazard, Mavuba, Balmont, Cabaye (Dumont 73), Obraniak (Toure 83); Frau (Aubameyang 77).

LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Reina; Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Insua; Mascherano, Lucas; Kuyt (El Zhar 88), Gerrard, Babel (Riera 73); Torres.

REFEREE: Claus Bo Larsson (Denmark)

ATTENDANCE: 17,931

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.