Eden Hazard’s 85th minute free-kick condemned Liverpool to their second successive 1-0 defeat within the space of four days. The young Belgian midfielder showed why he is one of the hottest properties in football with an exciting display against one of the most successful teams in Europe.
Rafael Benitez demanded a response to the shock 1-0 defeat to Wigan on Monday night. After the Lille game, the Spanish tactician amazingly claimed that his players had responded well during this tedious first-leg encounter, though to many onlookers Liverpool were average at best.
Liverpool would have liked to score an away goal in France to take into next weeks now crucial encounter at Anfield. But having conceded, the Reds will face a battle to try and remain in this competition. Should Lille score at Anfield, Liverpool will have to beat them by two clear goals to progress.
Benitez started with what many would claim to be his best team. Johnson, Mascherano, Gerrard and Torres were all present in the starting line-up, so there were no excuses as to why Liverpool fell to defeat. There were signs of frustration during the display, most notably from Fernando Torres towards the end of the game as he received a yellow card for continuously pestering the referee.
Ryan Babel was given a rare opportunity to show his undoubted talent and the Dutchman had a chance early on as he combined well with Torres and created an opening, but his shot was well blocked by Landreau. It was Torres who came closest to opening the scoring, his header miraculously saved by the opposition keeper who had saved a Steven Gerrard shot just moments earlier.
Eden Hazard showed his quality and potential after the break, as he slotted home early in the second half, only for the goal to be ruled wrongly offside. Ryan Babel then tested the keeper at the other end, but his shot was straight at the man in between the sticks. Despite the rare Liverpool attack, Lille continued to push forward and Daniel Agger will have thanked his lucky stars that his touch from a Lille cross did not end up in the back of the net.
Liverpool were given some warning signs of Lille’s intent and threat, with Cabaye’s piledriver going just over the crossbar. But it was the magician Eden Hazard who capped a marvellous display with a goal from a long-range free-kick. The Belgian teenager managed to curl the ball in past a whole host of bodies, which caught out Reina and gave Lille a precious lead. The hosts could have added to the slender score-line as Aubameyang’s shot hit the post after an intervention from Agger.
Liverpool will now welcome the French side to Anfield next week, hoping for a much more attacking and inventive performance. One thing is for sure, Rafael Benitez will have to find a way to keep tabs on the threat of Hazard, who will be their danger man in the second leg.
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