Carragher, though, admits Liverpool must ensure they meet their part of the bargain before hoping on help from the French.

“We just have to concentrate on what we can affect and make sure we do our job,” he says. “There would be nothing worse than Lyon doing us a favour and we haven’t managed to get the win we need.

“Lyon don’t need to do us a favour, they have to do themselves a favour to finish top of the group. To finish top will be great for them in a tough group that also has Fiorentina and Liverpool.”

Liverpool’s only win of the group stage came in the opening 1-0 home win against Debrecen, and a positive result tonight would at least guarantee the safety net of Europa League football in the New Year.

And Carragher says: “When you start out you are obviously desperate to get through the group stages, but I don’t think you could call it a disaster if we don’t get through.

“I think because we have done well in recent seasons other people outside the club tend to take it a little bit for granted that Liverpool will get into the knockout stages.

“But it isn’t easy. Manchester United didn’t make it through a few years ago and Barcelona have had a couple of setbacks this season and they aren’t sure of making it. It shows how well we have done it the past.

“We haven’t done ourselves justice so far in the group. Injuries have had an impact but they are also part and parcel of football.

“If we don’t make it through then we have to accept it and move on. Stevie and myself won what was the UEFA Cup back then and it was a great moment.

“Obviously, we are all still hoping we are in the Champions League come Tuesday night. Whatever happens, you have to move on and look forward.”

But as long as there is a glimmer of hope, Liverpool have shown, particularly in Europe, they simply refuse to throw the towel in.

And a bullish Carragher adds: “The way you get through it is to believe that you have good players and the past four or five years we have shown that.

“We are not a bad team. We are good team that is just not doing itself the right things at the moment. At these times you need to show determination and character and it is up to the big players to lead.”

PROBABLE TEAMS.

DEBRECEN (4-4-2): Poleksic; Komlos, Meszaros, Fodor, Bodnar; Kiss, Czvitkovics, de Almeida, Szakaly; Ramos, Coulibaly.

LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Reina; Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Insua; Mascherano, Lucas; Kuyt, Gerrard, Aurelio/Benayoun; Ngog.