Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has suffered yet another injury headache as full-backs Glen Johnson and Fabio Aurelio have both been ruled out of the Reds' crucial UEFA Champions League tie at Lyon on Wednesday.

The duo havebeen forced to sit the game out with calf injuries and didn't travel with the squad as they left for France, joining captain Steven Gerrard (groin), Martin Skrtel (muscle), Albert Riera (hamstring) and Martin Kelly (ankle) on the treatment table.

There are also still question marks over the fitness of Daniel Agger (back), David Ngog (ankle) and Alberto Aquilani (flu), though with the squad so threadbare all three are expected to at least make the bench.

The losses will come as a blow to Benitez, as three of his four right backs are now unavailable as Phillip Degen is ineligible, meaning either the unfavoured moving of Jamie Carragher to right back, or a rare start for reserve team captain Stephen Darby.

The absence of Aurelio means that Argentine ace Emiliano Insua will keep his place in the left-back slot, despite his performances coming into question in recent games.

Liverpool face a must-win situation at the Stade Gerland, as they currently trail Lyon by six points and Fiorentina by three respectively.

A loss or draw for Benitez's men would mean they will be completely reliant on Claude Puel's side getting something from their game with the Viola in the Stadio Artemio Franchi in three weeks time

Probable Liverpool starting XI: (4-2-3-1) Reina; Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Agger, Insua; Mascherano, Lucas; Benayoun, Kuyt, Babel; Torres.