Reina issues rallying call

Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina has called on his team-mates to show "heart, passion and belief" following their draw in Lyon.

The 1-1 scoreline leaves the Reds Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.

Liverpool led through Ryan Babel's thunderbolt only for Lisandro Lopez to pop up with a last-gasp equaliser, meaning Rafael Benitez's side must now win their two remaining games in Group E and hope already-qualified Lyon can do them a favour against Fiorentina if they are to reach the last 16.

It is an unlikely scenario but Spanish goalkeeper Reina is refusing to give up hope.

"We must continue to show heart, passion and belief," he said.

"If anyone can do this, Liverpool can. But now it (qualification) is not in our own hands, it does not only depend on what we do.

"We were unlucky, but we must keep fighting until we have more options with players getting fit again.

"I felt we had done enough to have won, and deserved it too. Maybe not beforehand in the previous matches when we did not play well.

"But this was different, this was a much better performance. When we play like we did in Lyon, we know we are good enough.

"Now it is very, very difficult for us. But we must show strong character and fight right to the end. We know we have enough good players to sort this out.

"The players will take heart from this, at least we know we are getting back to the form we know we should be producing every week."

Failure to qualify for the knockout stages would have financial implications for the Merseysiders but Reina denies it would be a disaster, adding: "I do not accept that not going through will be a disaster for the club.

"We have been in the Champions League now for several years, one failure is not a disaster.

"Not many teams have reached the semi-final twice and two finals - including a title victory - in the last few seasons. It can happen again, we get closer to our real form with every game.

"Any team would miss the quality of the players who are injured at the moment, but we have others who can play and who can produce the right performances to get us out of this mess."

Stand-in skipper Jamie Carragher is another yet to give up hope.

He said: "We still believe we will get through. We know it is going to be difficult but we are not out of it yet. All we can do is win our next two games and see what happens.

"We have been in difficult positions before and come through like in 2005 when we had to win in Marseille to qualify. A draw in Lyon does not mean we're totally out of it."

Carragher was also quick to defend the under-fire Benitez, adding: "If you look at the manager's record in Europe; we've won it and been to the final, semi-final and quarter-finals. So our Champions League record under the manager has been superb."

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Milan move to boost Beckham's hopes

England midfielder David Beckham hopes his return loan move to AC Milan will be the boost that helps him realise his World Cup dream.

Under pressure from England coach Fabio Capello to stay sharp by playing at the highest level, the Los Angeles Galaxy star will arrive at the San Siro in January.

Both Beckham and the Italian club are excited about the reunion, with the 34-year-old having helped the San Siro outfit clinch a top-four finish last season to earn a place in the Champions League qualifying stages.

"David Beckham and Milan, Milan and David Beckham. The relationship is serious, the handshake is solid," read a statement on the club's official website, www.acmilan.com.

"The arrival of the English champion on December 20 last year at (Milan's) Malpensa airport was just the first step of a beautiful adventure, that continued with reciprocal satisfaction."

Beckham, who earned the admiration of the Milan fans and his team-mates during his first spell at the club, is eager to again deliver.

"I needed to give myself the best possible opportunity to go to the World Cup and to play on loan for Milan will help me to do that," said Beckham.

"I really enjoyed my previous experience at Milan and I can't wait to see the team and the staff again."

Milan coach Leonardo predicted at the weekend that Beckham's return would bring a further touch of quality and experience to his side.

"I consider Beckham as if he had always been here because he has only been away for six months," said Leonardo, who acted as assistant to Carlo Ancelotti last season.

"He will be a player that will contribute a lot not only on the pitch but also inside the squad, as the players like him infinitely."

Midfielder Clarence Seedorf believes Beckham's arrival will have a positive impact.

"Beckham can certainly help Milan," said Seedorf. "We became friends during his loan spell here, and for that reason it would make me happy to see him return.

"It will be good for Milan and for him too because it would be a pity not to see him in the World Cup.

"He is a player who has already made an important contribution to Milan, and I am convinced that he will continue to do so."
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Gerrard misses Lyon trip, Torres travels

Steven Gerrard has been ruled out of Liverpool's Champions League trip to Lyon, but Fernando Torres will be on the plane.

Although Gerrard has now played just 25 minutes of five matches since he sustained a groin injury while on England duty, boss Rafael Benitez has delayed any decision on whether his captain needs an operation.

Club sources suggest that Benitez is happy that Gerrard's treatment is progressing well and that the player's injury problem is improving.

If Gerrard does have an operation on his groin, it will rule him out for a month and he would be unlikely to play again until mid-December.

Liverpool are trying to avoid that eventuality, and Benitez will assess the midfielder's fitness levels again when the Anfield men return from Wednesday's match.

Gerrard will then have more intensive treatment ahead of the club's next league match, at home to Birmingham on Monday.

Torres will travel with the party, having been taken off at Fulham on Saturday after a hour to protect his adductor muscle injury.

Albert Riera (hamstring), Martin Kelly (ankle) and Martin Skrtel (muscle and virus), are also definitely out of the Group E match that Liverpool must win if they want to retain any serious hopes of qualifying for the last 16.

But £20million Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani will be available for selection after recovering from a virus.

Benitez said: "Aquilani trained today but was a little bit weak. Hopefully in two days' time he will be better.

"Gerrard won't travel to Lyon. He has no chance. He is improving but we have to wait. He has had an injection but we have to wait two or three days and see how he reacts.

"Skrtel has no chance. He has a small muscle problem. It's not too big but he is feeling something."

Meanwhile, the Liverpool manager will make late fitness calls on the recovering Daniel Agger (back), Glen Johnson (calf), Fabio Aurelio (calf) and David Ngog (ankle), none of whom travelled to Craven Cottage.

Benitez said: "Agger is improving - he will travel and we will then decide. He felt something in his back but it's much better now. We have to wait and see how he reacts.

"Fabio is improving but he still has a small problem in his calf, so we will have to wait. Ngog is much better, so he could be available.

"Johnson is training and working with the physios but he is a doubt at this moment. He will travel to Lyon and we will see."

Benitez again explained his decision to substitute Torres at Fulham, saying: "I was surprised with the criticism after the game because Fernando has had problems in the last month after the international games.

"We are trying to manage because he was close to having an operation. Still this morning, two days after the game, he is feeling something.

"He is not comfortable. He has not got the power he had before, so we have to manage and try to protect him. He cannot play well if you keep pushing him. Maybe if you push him he will be injured for a long time.

"So, I am really surprised with the critics. When you talk about big names, people just analyse the names and not how the player is when he is on the pitch. He was not 100% fit.

"We have to take Fernando to Lyon because we don't have too many options. We have to keep working with him and the rest of the players."

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