Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas is hoping an eliminated Liverpool can do his club a favour in the final round of Champions League group games.

Lyon stand second in Group E, behind Fiorentina, and have already qualified for the last 16 of the competition.

However the French giants want to finish top of the group to secure a favourable draw in the knock-out stage, and they are looking for Liverpool to beat leaders Fiorentina to make that possible.

Liverpool might not want to do Lyon many favours, given the fact that their failure to take more than one point against Les Gones over two games was a key factor in their failure to finish in the top two.

Aulas said: "First place is important, notably because the second-leg match in the last 16 would be played at home.

"We have the match against Debrecen remaining and we hope that at the same time Liverpool can beat Fiorentina."

Defender Jean-Alain Boumsong echoed Aulas' view, and the former Newcastle and Rangers player believes Benitez's side will want to sign off in style, despite their disappointment.

Boumsong said on www.olweb.fr: "We must win this last game and hope for a surge of pride from Liverpool."