Lyon request Reds favour

Les Gones chief hopes Reds will do French club a favour

By Elliot Ball   Last updated: 25th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Lyon request Reds favour

Benitez: Asked by conquerors to help

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Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has called on Liverpool to help his club on Matchday 6 of the UEFA Champions League despite the French club being integral to the Reds' elimination from the competition.

Lyon had already assured their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League after drawing and beating Rafa Benitez's side, but the Ligue 1 outfit have slipped to second in Group E after Tuesday's 1-0 defeat to Fiorentina.

Claude Puel's side must now beat bottom-placed Debrecen, and hope Benitez's charges overcome La Viola at Anfield, to guarantee top-spot in the group and secure a favourable draw in the last 16 stage.

And Aulas is hoping the Premier League giants look to finish their campaign on a high and beat the Italians at Merseyside.

"First place is important, notably because the second-leg match in the last 16 would be played at home," Aulas said.

"We have the match against Debrecen remaining and we hope that at the same time Liverpool can beat Fiorentina."

Defender Jean-Alain Boumsong echoed Aulas' view, and the former Newcastle and Rangers defender believes Benitez's side will want to sign off in style, despite their recent disappointment.

"We must win this last game and hope for a surge of pride from Liverpool," the French centre-back told www.olweb.fr.