The 20-year-old Lyon-born midfielder feared the worse in July last year when a blister became infected and at one stage his condition was so grave, doctors thought they might have to amputate his foot.
Gonalons was fortunate enough to overcome the infection, although it did take eight months for him to regain his full fitness.
"I think the fact that I found myself not very far from death gave me a lot of mental strength," he told reporters after Tuesday's victory that put Lyon on the brink of qualification from Group E.
"I was calm when I came on," Gonalons added. "I didn't let the emotion of playing at Anfield for the first time affect me."
"I saw the ball coming and I didn't ask myself any questions," he said of his first goal for Lyon. "After scoring I just didn't know where to go to celebrate. I'll remember this all my life."
"I'm not used to playing in that position but with Jeremy, we talked a lot and did what he had to," Gonalons said.
"We need to congratulate Maxime Gonalons for that," Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris told reporters. "He was magnificent."
