THEY came with hope in their hearts. But that now appears the only thing Liverpool have left to cling on to in this Champions League campaign.

Rafael Benitez looked to the sentiment of Anfield’s most famous anthem as he sought to rouse his troops ahead of last night’s pivotal showdown at Lyon.

But despite a spirited display from his injury-ravaged side, Liverpool this morning stand on the brink of elimination from the group stage to further increase the pressure on the beleaguered Spaniard.

It wasn’t another defeat, yet it felt like one after a cruel, heartbreaking finale.

Ryan Babel stepped off the bench to deliver a timely reminder of his existence and smash Liverpool into a deserved lead with just seven minutes remaining.

But, as at Anfield a fortnight ago, Lyon struck in the final minute with Lisandro netting the equaliser that was enough to send his team into the knockout stages.

Those two last-gasp goals have left Benitez’s side contemplating the very real prospect of life in the Europa League come the New Year.

A worse head-to-head record means Liverpool cannot overtake Lyon in the Group E table. And with the Anfield outfit reliant on the French side gaining a result at Fiorentina in their next game, the harsh reality is even Benitez admits it will take a miraculous series of results for his side to qualify.

So much for the Spaniard being a lucky manager. The fates have conspired against him in recent weeks, with even the usual refuge of Europe unable to give Benitez any respite from Liverpool’s current travails.

After six defeats in seven games, it at least stopped the rot for the Anfield outfit. But that will be little consolation to Benitez and his players, who will reflect on an opportunity missed.

With Lyon once again failing to impress, Liverpool will rue missed first-half chances from Fernando Torres and, in particular, Andriy Voronin.

The partnership of Javier Mascherano and the excellent Lucas Leiva dominated central midfield, yet ultimately the visitors were undone by familiar defensive failings and an injury crisis that has unbalanced the back line.

It was almost two years ago that Liverpool thrashed Marseille 4-0 in a must-win game in the Champions League, eventually reaching the semi-finals of that season’s competition.

But whereas back in December 2007 Benitez could choose from an almost full-strength squad, there was no such luxury this time.

The loss of first-team regulars Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel, Albert Riera and Fabio Aurelio, on top of fringe players such as Andrea Dossena, Philipp Degen and Martin Kelly, would have been felt keenly on any occasion.

At least Torres was available, although a hernia problem that may ultimately require surgery has left the Spaniard operating at less than 100%.

There were similar fears over the full fitness of Daniel Agger, but Benitez had no option but to throw the Dane in at centre-back alongside Sotirios Kyrgiakos, with Jamie Carragher shifting across to right-back, the only change to the starting line-up that slumped to a 3-1 loss at Fulham at the weekend.

And despite some shaky moments early on, Liverpool gradually grew in confidence and conviction and should have been ahead at the interval.

In the 12th minute, Yossi Benayoun fed Emiliano Insua down the left flank and the Argentine’s low cross deflected invitingly into the path of Torres. Unfortunately for Liverpool, the Spaniard’s left-foot effort from 12 yards was too close to Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who deflected the ball clear off his legs.