Liverpool face the prospect of failing to qualify from their Champions League group after two goals in the last 18 minutes consigned them to defeat against France’s ex-champions.

Both Lyon goals were scored by substitutes, with Cesar Delgado’s injury-time winner in front of a disbelieving Kop. The win leaves Liverpool in the Europa League place at the halfway stage in Group E and with only one Anfield fixture remaining. And to qualify they will at the very least have to avoid defeat in Lyon in two weeks’ time.

Without right-back Glen Johnson and Fernando Torres from the start and Steven Gerrard when he succumbed to his pre-match groin injury after 23 minutes, Liverpool were disjointed and unimaginative. Under-fire manager Rafa Benitez replaced Johnson with Martin Kelly. The 19-year-old had an impressive match. But other replacements only demonstrated Liverpool’s woeful lack of strength in depth.

Lyon should have taken the lead on nine minutes, but Lisandro Lopez’s header from Aly Cissokho’s inviting left-wing cross was straight at Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina.

Dirk Kuyt had the ball in the Lyon net six minutes later only for a referee’s assistant to flag for a push by the Dutchman. And halfway through the first-half, Liverpool’s troubles intensified when Gerrard left proceedings.

This, however, shook the Merseysiders into gear. And Yossi Benayoun gave them a 41^st-minute lead with a right-foot drive after Fabio Aurelio’s cross was deflected in to his path. Benayoun and Kuyt passed up decent chances to make it two-nil shortly after half-time.

And the French side were level on 72 minutes. Reina made fine saves from Jeremy Toulalon and Sidney Govou but couldn’t stop Maxime Gonalons far-post header. Benayoun was withdrawn on 83 minutes to rare booing from the Anfield crowd. And in stoppage time, Liverpool’s fate was sealed when Govou’s right-wing cross evaded attackers and defenders alike until it was swept home by Delgado.