Toulalan expecting tough Liverpool test

The euphoria created by Lyon's historic Champions League victory against Liverpool at Anfield has barely settled and already the same slain giant is knocking on the Gallic door seeking instant redemption.

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Jeremy Toulalan battles with Liverpool's David Ngog at Anfield

This game rarely throws up instant chances to claim sweet revenge after a harrowing setback and yet the format of Europe's premier competition has presented Rafael Benitez's men the ideal opportunity to put Claude Puel's side firmly in their place on Wednesday night.

In the view of Lyon midfielder Jérémy Toulalan, the prospect of a re-match with Liverpool is far from ideal so soon after their memorable 2-1 triumph on Merseyside as he expects the side they will do battle with second time around to be a very different animal compared to the feeble beast that surrendered two weeks ago.

"I am expecting a tougher game against Liverpool this time," he confirms, prior to a fixture that will be the most significant Champions League battle of the week. "It's not a question of revenge for them, just there is a reality that they may not qualify if they fail again and their motivation will be very high to beat us.

"Obviously winning at Anfield was a huge boost for our confidence as Liverpool don't make a habit of losing at home in Europe. To walk away with all three points was a bonus in every sense, but I believe we deserved the victory. No one would have expected us to come from a goal-down and win it late on, but we were not shocked by the way we turned the tables.

"We dictated the play for long periods and kept our shape and discipline so well. Away from home, there is always the danger that you are not ambitious enough, that you are satisfied with a draw and it was heartening that we didn't fall into this trap at Anfield. We looked to play our game and to impose ourselves and it shows a Lyon team that is maturing.

"Now we find ourselves in a very commanding position in the group. You can't ask for any more than maximum points and we are close to qualifying already. Another victory over Liverpool will put us through to the next round and then we can put the Champions League to the background and concentrate on Ligue 1, where we have allowed our standards to slip a little recently."

It seemed as if Liverpool were ready to bounce back from their slump as they recorded a fine Premier League victory against Manchester United a few days after the setback against Lyon and yet the manner of their defeat at Fulham on Saturday means manager Benitez again finds himself on the brink ahead of the trip to France.

Toulalan watched on as United were beaten at Anfield and he insists their latest unexpected defeat at Craven Cottage does not mean Liverpool can be dismissed as a side on the wane ahead of Wednesday night's European showdown.

"Great teams are never down and out for long and you must never write off a side of Liverpool's pedigree," he suggests. "They have too many classy players and a very good tactician in Benitez. Of course, I like Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres and they would make any world XI, but I also appreciate players like Benayoun, Kuyt, Mascherano and Babel.

"We did well to beat them, but equally I was not surprised to see Liverpool overcome Manchester United a few days ago. I watched the game on the television and you could see the hunger and passion in their team was burning once again.

"All of us at Lyon know they are wounded but they are far from dead and we are not under any illusion that Liverpool won't be very dangerous. It is another day and we can take nothing for granted. What happened in the game at Anfield is in the past and it will not help us now when the next match starts."

Lyon's impressive Champions League form is all the more commendable when you consider the injury crisis that has affected the squad this season, with midfielder Toulalan called into defensive duty as the likes of Mathieu Bodmer, Jean-Alain Boumsong and Cleber Anderson have all been struggling for full fitness.

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Lyon's Maxime Gonalons of Lyon nets the equaliser against Liverpool

"It's a good sign that we are still winning at the highest level even with our problems," says Toulalan, who played in Lyon's shock 4-1 defeat against Nice that burst their bubble a few days after their victory in Liverpool. "Obviously we look forward to all our players returning, but we have to deal with this situation.

"I think we've proved over the years that we're a good technical side, but now I feel we can mix it physically with the best and know how to keep going to the very end. There's a lot of strong characters here, guys who don't lie down when things aren't going right.

"Also, we believe we have the depth in the squad to cope. There is intense competition for places at this club and we also have a great crop of youngsters coming through like [Yannis] Tafer and [Maxime] Gonalons. Once given a chance in the first team, they will be hard to dislodge.

"If the coach needs me to play in defence for some games, I will do it for him. I'm a holding midfielder by preference, but if it's for the good of the team, I have no problem with moving into a difference role. In fact, I've really enjoyed it. I've adjusted pretty well to the new role, I think."

Champions League success has been the one missing ingredient at Lyon during the last decade when they have dominated French football, but Toulalan believes the final piece of their jigsaw can now slot into place as coach Puel has been given the sort of time to build a team that his predecessors were denied.

"Hopefully Lyon are moving in the right direction," he concludes. "After seven straight Ligue 1 titles, we came up short last year and a desire is running through this club to get back to the top as soon as possible. We are not easily beaten any more and it feels like we tend to hang on and fight to get out of negative spots better than in the past. We seem to have discovered an instinct for survival here."

A survival instinct is just what Reds' boss Benitez needs ahead of this game he dare not lose. Liverpool's Premier League ambitions seem over for another season after their most recent defeat at Fulham, so the termination of their European adventure so soon into this troubled season may well signal the end of the Spaniard's Anfield story.