Lille v Liverpool preview

Benitez: Tricky trip

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Lille will be hoping to take advantage of Liverpool's domestic troubles when they meet in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League tie.

The French outfit enter the continental clash in decent form, with just two defeats suffered in their last 14 Ligue 1 fixtures.

They have won 10 of those games and are perched just four points behind league leaders Bordeaux in the title race.

Lille saw off Turkish giants Fenerbahce in the first knockout stage, proving their European pedigree, and have lost only twice on home soil in all competitions this term.

Liverpool, meanwhile, head to France on the back of a demoralising 1-0 defeat to Wigan on Monday night.

They had been in impressive form before that setback, but the lacklustre nature of their showing at the DW Stadium has infuriated boss Rafa Benitez.

The Reds will be desperate to bounce back and silence their critics at Stadium Lille-Metropole, especially as the Europa League represents their only chance to land some silverware this season.

Team news

Lille's hopes of securing a memorable scalp have been dealt a blow with the news that Gervinho, their top scorer in European competition, is set to miss out through injury.

Coach Rudi Garcia will also be without Matthieu Debuchy and Tulio De Melo, who are both struggling with knocks.

Adil Rami is yet to shake off a bout of flu, and will not be risked, but the rest of the Lille squad are battling for starting berths.

Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun misses the trip to northern France with an ankle injury.

Benayoun suffered discomfort in the defeat by Wigan and he was not named among the Reds' travelling party.

Centre-back Daniel Agger should be available having recovered from a sickness bug which reduced him to the role of unused substitute on Monday.