Sportsbook players didn’t see the collapse of Liverpool coming, and the English giants now find themselves in a must-win situation when they head to Lyon on Wednesday in Champions League action.
Wednesday, November 4
Stade Gerland, Lyon
Kick-Off: 2:45 PM ET
The Reds are struggling badly with six losses in their last seven matches overall, and some are calling for the scalp of manager Rafa Benitez. However, Liverpool has a lot of injuries worries from the likes of captain Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson, while Fernando Torres hasn’t been at 100% for the last couple of weeks. A loss would essentially end Liverpool’s Champions League quest.
The French champions won 2-1 at Anfield two weeks ago, then lost 4-1 at Nice before rebounding for a 1-0 loss at St. Etienne. It’s still very strange to see Lyon without Juninho in the side, as he had the ability to change games with his deadly free kicks from almost anywhere on the pitch. Bafetimbi Gomis has five goals in all competitions to lead Lyon.
Prediction
Lyon come in as +125 favorites at home, while Liverpool is rated at +180 and a draw is listed at +220. Lyon scored twice in the last 18 minutes to win at Anfield, one of the toughest places to play in all of Europe, and that may have been the straw that broke Liverpool’s back. Without Gerrard in the side, there’s no inspiration for Liverpool, meaning that a half-fit Torres trudges all alone up front. A win will take all of Benitez’s managerial skill.
Liverpool vs Lyon online betting pick: Lyon +125
