Source: SKY_Sports
Puel wary of Reds response
Lyon boss Claude Puel is wary of an Anfield reaction when his side take on Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League.
Rafa Benitez's side are in the thick of their worst spell of the season after Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Sunderland condemned them to their third successive reverse in all competitions.
The Reds now welcome the Ligue 1 giants to Merseyside in a week which could reignite their campaign as a clash with Manchester United on Sunday follows the European tie.
Tuesday's opponents, who currently top both their domestic league and Group E in Europe's premier club competition, know that a victory on English soil will effectively book their spot in the last 16.
But Puel fears his side's task has been made significantly tougher due to Liverpool's poor run of form.
Puel said: "I would rather be playing Liverpool when they are on a good run, not as they are at the moment. Liverpool know they must win.
"They have had some bad results and they are obliged to win and to play well. That puts us under a lot more pressure, but we have two wins already in this group and it is very important to
continue in this form."
Lyon have enjoyed an unblemished Champions League campaign so far, having beaten Fiorentina and Debrecen, but the French outfit slumped to their first defeat of the season on Saturday when they went down 2-0 at home to lowly Sochaux.
And Puel has set his sights on a positive start in Tuesday's match, one which deserted them at the Stade Gerland last weekend.
He added: "Liverpool will have the edge because they are at home, there will be a great atmosphere and it will lift them.
"But we must start the game well. We did not do that on Saturday against Sochaux, we dare not do the same thing here.
"I accept that we are missing key players, we have defensive problems, but I believe we have enough quality in our squad to cope with these problems.
"There will be no need to motivate my team, we, must impose our own style on the game and we know we will have to be at our best."
