Football: Lille v Liverpool in the Europa League

You wouldn't know it from the look on his face, but Rafael Benitez has a strong squad to choose from tonight for this last-16 tie. Glen Johnson is fit to start for the first time since tearing knee ligaments at Christmas. He'll be joined by Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Emiliano Insua in defence, with Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva slotting in behind Dirk Kuyt, Steven Gerrard and Ryan Babel in midfield. Fernando Torres is operating as a lone striker tonight Photograph: Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Philippe Huguen/guardian.co.uk Lille's Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard evades Insua as the home side, who lie sixth in Ligue 1, launch an early attack Photograph: Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Philippe Huguen/guardian.co.uk Javier Mascherano dispossesses Franck Beria Photograph: Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Philippe Huguen/guardian.co.uk Ludovic Obraniak tries to block Jamie Carragher as the sandy pitch tears up beneath their feet. Liverpool's players won't like this surface one bit Photograph: Denis Charlet/AFP/Getty Images Ryan Babel and Fernando Torres scythe through Lille's defence with a swift one-two exchange but Babel's effort is saved by the keeper - it would have been a stunning goal had the Dutchman been more composed Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/guardian.co.uk Stiff, graceless and ultimately ineffectual - Steven Gerrard's leap, that is, not Ryan Babel Photograph: Michel Spingler/AP Photograph: Michel Spingler/guardian.co.uk Eden Hasard is the architect of Lille's best opportunities - his pace proving effective on the right flank Photograph: Michel Spingler/AP Carragher and Daniel Agger deny Adil Rami as the game remains goalless until the break ... Photograph: Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Philippe Huguen/guardian.co.uk Gerrard jumps over Beria as Babel gathers possession for Liverpool. Their hopes of a 12th major European honour would be greatly boosted were they to snatch an away goal tonight Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images Photograph: John Powell/guardian.co.uk Yohan Cabaye steers a header goalwards as Lille begin to dominate Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images Photograph: John Powell/guardian.co.uk Torres takes a tumble as Hazard relives him of the ball Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Photograph: Mike Hewitt/guardian.co.uk Calamitous defending by Liverpool as an inswinging free-kick is allowed to sail directly into the bottom corner of Pepe Reina's net without anyone getting a touch. The keeper didn't even flinch. Lille are 1-0 up and deservedly so Photograph: Adam Davy/EMPICS Sport Photograph: Adam Davy/guardian.co.uk Needless to say it was their Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard who took the set-piece ... Photograph: Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty Images Torres, Gerrard and Mascherano look devastated. They've only six minutes left to salvage something from this first leg Photograph: Adam Davy/EMPICS Sport Photograph: Adam Davy/guardian.co.uk Torres gets a half-chance to score during a goal-mouth scramble but the ball is cleared away and Lille hold on to win 1-0. It's been another traumatic night for Liverpool, who must now turn this tie around at Anfield next Thursday Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/guardian.co.uk