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Liverpool in trouble after draw at Lyon

After beating AZ Alkmaar 4-1, Arsenal is just one point shy of qualifying

— PHOTO: AP

THE FINAL NAIL: With Arsenal 3-0 up and the contest effectively over, Abou Diaby (centre) helped himself to one before Alkmaar found a consolation goal in their Champions League encounter.

LONDON: Liverpool’s chances of progressing in the Champions League took a big hit on Wednesday when the five-time European champion conceded late to draw 1-1 at Lyon, which advanced to the next round.

Liverpool looked to have secured victory when substitute Ryan Babel scored with seven minutes left but Lisandro took advantage of a defensive error to equalise in the last minute and put the French team through.

With Arsenal moving to the verge of qualification with a 4-1 win over AZ Alkmaar, Liverpool is in severe danger of becoming the first English club to fall at the group stage since Manchester United in 2005.

Even wins in its final two games may not be enough.

Also on Wednesday, Sevilla advanced to the knockout stage after its 1-1 draw at Stuttgart and Inter Milan scored twice in the last four minutes to revitalise its chances with a 2-1 win at Dynamo Kiev.

But Liverpool let its winning position slip when defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos tumbled to the ground while contesting a long ball into the area, allowing Lisandro to steady himself and shoot past goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had starred for Lyon, which won 2-1 at Anfield two weeks ago. Lloris saved from Lucas Leiva in the 69th and then helped block Dirk Kuyt’s overhead kick on the rebound.

Arsenal needs just one more point to move into the next round with a third win from four games.

Cesc Fabregas put the Gunners ahead at thEmirates Stadium in the 25th with a soft 20-metre shot that goalkeeper Sergio Romero let in at the near post and Samir Nasri made it 2-0 just before half-time, stepping inside a defender and placing a shot in at the post from the edge of the area.

The Dutch side conceded again in the 52nd, giving the ball away in its own half and letting Andrei Arshavin set up Fabregas for a shot into the top corner.

Abou Diaby made it 4-0 in the 72nd from Arshavin’s backheeled pass.

The results: Group E: Olympique Lyon 1 (Lopez 90) drew with Liverpool 1 (Babel 83); Fiorentina 5 (Mutu 14, Dainelli 52, Montolivo 59, Marchionni 61, Gilardino 74) bt Debrecen 2 (Rudolf 38, Coulibaly 70).

Group F: Rubin Kazan 0 drew with Barcelona 0; Dynamo Kiev 1 (Shevchenko 21) lost to Inter Milan 2 (Milito 86, Sneijder 89).

Group G: Unirea Urziceni 1 (Onofras 88) drew with Rangers 1 (McCulloch 79); Sevilla 1 (Navas 14) drew with VfB Stuttgart 1 (Kuzmanovic 79).

Group H: Standard Liege 2 (Mbokani 30, Jovanovic 88) bt Olympiakos Piraeus 0; Arsenal 4 (Fabregas 26, 52, Nasri 44, Diaby 72) bt AZ Alkmaar 1 (Lens 82). — AP

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