Gerrard Out Of Lyon Clash

Steven Gerrard

STEVEN GERRARD is out of Liverpool's crunch Champions League clash against Lyon on Wednesday.

The Reds have lost six of their last seven matches and the news is a massive blow to boss Rafa Benitez who is under huge pressure to turn the club's fortunes around.

Club captain Gerrard has been ruled out with a groin injury and star striker Fernando Torres is struggling with a similar complaint.

In fact, Benitez could be without 13 players for the game against the French champions, which the Merseysiders must win to stand any chance of qualifying for the last 16.

However, £20million new boy Alberto Aquilani could make his first start for the club after recovering from a virus which kept him out of the 3-1 defeat to Fulham in the Premier League at the weekend.

Benitez said: "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.

"Aquilani had a virus. He trained today but was a little bit weak. Hopefully in two days' time he will be better." Martin Skrtel (muscle), Albert Riera (hamstring) and Martin Kelly (ankle) are all out of the Group E encounter, while Daniel Agger (back), Glen Johnson (calf), Fabio Aurelio (calf) and David N'Gog (ankle) face late fitness tests.