Hazard 84

Liverpool’s Europa League future hangs in the balance after this one-goal defeat at the Stadium Lille Metropole, with no away goal.

Eden Hazard’s 84^th minute free-kick from near the left touchline found its way into the net to divide the sides on the night.

And matters could have been worse had Daniel Agger not deflected Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goalbound effort onto the post three minutes later.

Liverpool were nearly caught cold by Yohan Cabaye’s shot at Pepe Reina inside forty seconds.

But Lille keeper Mickael Landreau denied Ryan Babel on 26 minutes after some terrific interplay between the Dutchman and Fernando Torres.

And he made two saves in thirty seconds from Steven Gerrard’s drive and Torres’s header late in the half, before saving again from Babel’s stinging right-foot drive on the hour mark.

Lille were a constant threat, though, and Reina was kept busy by well-struck long-range efforts from Pierre Alain-Frau, Cabaye and Stephane Dumont.

Liverpool, however, dealt poorly with Hazard’s free-kick. Jamie Carragher ducked underneath the ball as it curled towards goal and Reina was left rooted to his goalline.

Home advantage next week might make Liverpool fractional favourites. But the lack of an away goal could also prove decisive.