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Lyon’s Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic has breathed new life into the French league leaders. Photograph: Paul Ellis/Getty Images

The good news for Liverpool is that Lyon, their Champions League opponents tonight, lost on Saturday, going down 2-0 at Sochaux. The bad news is that it was their first reverse of the season, and the team against whom they must try to get their season back on track after three straight defeats is top of the French table, looking rejuvenated after a summer clear-out.

“Liverpool is always Liverpool,” said Miralem Pjanic, Lyon’s Bosnian playmaker, “and you always have to talk about that club with dignity and respect. But I think that this year they do not resemble the team from last season. Then they played harder and stronger. They seem to have big problems and I just hope they don’t solve them in the game with us. We have a real chance.”