The fourth round of group stage matches took place this week and a number of teams booked their places in the knockout stages. Although after this round of games there are no perfect sides left in the competition.

Bordeaux dominated Bayern Munich for a second time in a fortnight. They beat the Germans 2-0 with goals from Gourcuff and Chamakh which puts them in the knockout stages.

Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez revealed he has held talks with Liverpool CEO Christian Purslow about the consequences of failure in the Champions League this season, about which Benitez said: "The first thing though is that we have confidence we can still reach the last 16 this season".
That is going to need already qualified Lyon to Beat Fiorentina away, not going to happen. Click to continue reading...

Fabio Aurelio is winning his battle to be fit to return to action on Monday – and to take his place in the Brazil squad for the first time.
Aurelio, who is in the last year of his current contract, has missed Liverpool's last two games against Fulham and Lyon with a calf problem.
His form before that, though, had been good enough to catch the eye of Brazil coach Dunga, who will take Aurelio and Reds midfielder Lucas to Qatar for next Saturday's friendly with England. Click to continue reading...

The shrill of Franck de Bleeckere's final whistle had barely subsided when the phone-ins started, looking to apportion blame for Liverpool's Champions League struggles.
Predictably, the names were the same. Angry of Anfield and Worried of Woolton all knew which players were culpable for stopping Liverpool securing a win in Lyon which would have kept them in control of their European destiny. Click to continue reading...

Copa Sudamericana reached the semifinals, two Brazilian clubs had the chance to be in the final 4. However, only Fluminense did so. Flu visited Universidad de Chile and one more time relied on Fred. The ex-Lyon seems to be playing for all the matches he did nothing since the beginning of the year.

Click to continue reading...

(click to enlarge)

For those of you are brave enough to describe the above picture with words, it's caption time!

Bonus points if you can find Lisandro in this picture.

Click to continue reading...

On this week's podcast we focus on the history of the game and in particular folk football. Damon and I have had to endure a tough week as both Liverpool and Tottenham continue to struggle. All these stories and more feature in this week's podcast. Come along to the site at languagecaster.com to read more.

Click to continue reading...

We start off this week's predictions with the Asian Champions League final as football increases in popularity in Asia this competition is going to get a bigger and bigger profile. Staying in Asia, we have a crunch game for the leaders of J-league, then some big games involving some the front runners in England, France and Spain, before we go south to a basement battle in Argentina.

Click to continue reading...

Ligue 1 teams had an amazing week in the Champions League (not so much in the Europa) that somewhat validated my prediction of French teams being real contenders this year. While Bordeaux won with class and Lyon once again upset Liverpool in the same manner they did 2 weeks ago, Marseille destroyed Zurich and are now in a position to make Real and Milan sweat. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is taking heart from the Reds' positive performance against Olympique Lyonnais this week, despite the disappointing result – a 1-1 draw placed the Merseysiders' hopes of progress in the Champions League in severe doubt.
"You get what you deserve in football and you have to look at closing the game down otherwise you get punished in the way we did in Lyon," he told the club's official website.

Click to continue reading...

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has said that he does not believe an early European exit for the club would be a complete disaster.
Reina knows that his side must win their two remaining games and hope already-qualified Lyon can do them a favour against Italian side Fiorentina, but maintains that the Reds' rich European history makes up for this season's woes. Click to continue reading...

Ryan Babel's speculative, yet spectacular drive from 30 yards into the top corner on 83 minutes looked to have won the match in France on Matchday 4. All sorts of things were going through my head. "Maybe we can sneak through this group after all," or "FINALLY! We're back on track! We can do it," [.. Click to continue reading...

While Wednesday's heartbreaking draw against Lyon didn't seal Liverpool's place in the Europa League it did put our chances on life support. Aside from needing to defeat Debrecen, Liverpool will also need some help from Lyon to keep the potential miracle alive. But what if Lyon and Fiorentina draw? Click to continue reading...

The 4-1 thumping of Alkmaar in midweek was an immensely satisfying affair, a triumph of footballing philosophy over the defensive nous of coaches such as Ronald Koeman, and yet another demonstration that this Arsenal team is serious about combining footballing beauty with tangible success.

But prior the the match, there was a definite sense of relaxation amongst the fans, as if the game really didn't matter, so assured was our progress regardless of the result.

Click to continue reading...

Kartik Krishnaiyer and Laurence McKenna break down all the midweek Champions League action. Hear Kartik's very sharp opinions on UEFA's seeding process and Laurence's views on Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benetiz. We also preview this weekend's headline top of the table clash between Chelsea and Manchester United.

Click to continue reading...

Not sure why Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas is so shy, he's been in top form lately. We'll have to set aside some special one-on-one confidence-building activities to help him get over this.

Let's check in with the rest of the visuals from yesterday's cracking games, shall we?

When Fernando Torres is left barely able to bitchface, no one is happy.

Click to continue reading...

Not sure why Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas is so shy, he's been in top form lately. We'll have to set aside some special one-on-one confidence-building activities to help him get over this.

Let's check in with the rest of the visuals from yesterday's cracking games, shall we?

When Fernando Torres is left barely able to bitchface, no one is happy.

Click to continue reading...

Fernando Torres underwent tests on Thursday at a Liverpool hospital on the serious groin injury which is threatening to ruin his season. Torres played with pain throughout the match, before flying back with the Liverpool party on Thursday morning.

This morning he went to a Liverpool hospital where more tests were carried out on his injury.

Click to continue reading...

Rafael Benitez insists he does not fear for his job even though Liverpool now need a miracle to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.
The Liverpool boss had seen victory snatched from his team by Lyon, who equalised through Lisandro Lopez in the dying seconds of their Group E clash at the Stade Gerland on Wednesday night. Click to continue reading...

Fernando Torres has undergone tests at a private hospital as Liverpool look to find a cure for their talisman's groin injury.
The Anfield hierarchy are desperate for their Spain striker to avoid surgery as they attempt to put Liverpool's season back on track after six defeats in eight games. Click to continue reading...

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina has branded Liverpool's Champions League performances this season 'disgraceful'.
The Spain international was left fuming after conceding a late equaliser in the 1-1 draw in Lyon on Wednesday night which has left the Reds' qualification from the group stages in the hands of rival teams. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez insists he is in no rush for star duo Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard to have operations.
Torres is playing through the pain barrier to feature for the Reds while Gerrard is currently on the sidelines.
The Spanish striker is hampered by groin-related injury while Gerrard has been struggling since aggravating a similar injury on international duty. Click to continue reading...

Lyon coach Claude Puel has assured Liverpool they will be doing their all to beat Fiorentina, despite already securing qualifcation.
Liverpool's hopes of reaching the last 16 of the Champions League is out of their hands after Lisandro Lopez's dramatic late goal denied the English side all three points in France on Wednesday night. Click to continue reading...

They must fall. And so four games in, the Champions League contenders and pretenders have been separated fallen into place for the group stage which, a few spots aside, could've been drawn up in August by a blind chimp and his serf, a man who tans. Breaking down the likelies, unlikelies, and those who are already [. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool was so close to victory yesterday in Lyon. After giving Lyon their best for 83 minutes, a Ryan Babel wonder goal broke the deadlock, handing Rafa and the Reds a lifeline in Group E. A win against the French powerhouse would throw them back in the thick of things. But it was not to be, as Lisandro Lopez capitalized on some poor Liverpool defending to snatch a 1-1 draw that sealed Lyon's passage to the knockout stage.

Click to continue reading...

A kick in the stomach. There's no better way to describe a game where, with a squad decimated by injuries, Liverpool went to Lyon and totally dominated. With better finishing, the contest should have been over by half time and when Ryan Babel scored, it looked as if Liverpool were going to get a much merited win. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal virtually booked their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, while Liverpool and Rangers' hopes continue to hang in the balance. Inter Milan staged a dramatic comeback win in Kiev while Rubin Kazan once again frustrated Barcelona.
Lyon 1 - 1 Liverpool
Lopez strikes at the death
Richard Williams Column
Player Ratings
Dynamo Kiev 1 - 2 Inter Milan
Late goals gain priceless victory
Player Ratings
Rubin Kazan 0 - 0 Barcelona
Blaugrana frozen out in Russia
Fiorentina 5 - 2 Decrecen
Viola cruise
Arsenal 4 - 1 AZ Alkmaar
FÃ bregas Masterclass
Player Ratings

Click to continue reading...

Liverpool drew 1-1 with Lyon last night, leaving any chance of getting through the group stages of the Champion's League hanging by a thread' but what do you think went wrong last night? There are a number of possible reasons: Rafa's tactics/his woeful decision to play Voronin/the lack of introduction of Aquilani/bringing on Babel too late, [. Click to continue reading...

They are left needing a miracle to qualify after a late late Lyon equaliser.
OLLIVERPOOL - The funniest bloopers are right here

Click to continue reading...

Reds undone by last gasp equalizer.

Join Our Facebook Fan Page for the Latest News/Rumours/Forums/Videos/WAGS/Funny Stuff/Features!

Now its not all doom and gloom and many will have you believe that we are sinking further into the abyss but that would be a harsh assessment of the tough 90 minute assignment that so nearly bore fruit.

Click to continue reading...

Champions League View: Bayern Munich and Liverpool FC could get 10 points and still not qualify.

An entertaining set of Champions League games threw up some unexpected results, great games and the odd ninja (but not a very effective one). Almost all of the big names have a chance to reach the knockout stages, even though the likes of Bayern and Liverpool have made it very, very difficult for themselves.

Click to continue reading...

Liverpool's Champions League hopes got a beating when they conceded a 90th minute goal to Lyon's Lisandro in their encounter last night. Just seven minutes back, Ryan Babel had done his bit and put the Reds in the lead. With this 1-1 draw, Lyon enter the last 16 while Liverpool still five points behind second [. Click to continue reading...

Aguero's brace denied Chelsea a perfect start.

Yet again Europe's top talent provided us with some magnificent goals. Argentine striker Aguero may have found his form with two howitzers against Chelsea.

Enjoy!

Babel's goal against Lyon:

Watch More Football Videos at MySoccerPlace.

Click to continue reading...

Everyone's doing a brand new dance now. C'mon baby, do the Kyrgiakos.

It must have been yet another very frustrating night for Liverpool supporters Wednesday night after the Reds failed to win against Lyon in a 1-1 draw. The dreams of advancing in the Champions League are quickly disappearing.

Click to continue reading...

Bad luck continues to follow Rafael Benitez. When the much-criticised Ryan Babel scored a brilliant goal with just seven minutes of game time left, on most days in most seasons, the Pools probably would have taken 3 points at Anfield against Lyon. However, with the Pools experiencing a long streak of bad luck, it came as no surprise when Lisandro Lopez struck an equaliser in the final seconds Click to continue reading...