Torres struggles through the game at Lyon
Liverpool’s injury list is beginning to get smaller according to Rafa Benitez.
However, the reds boss expects both Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to avoid being called up by their countries in the upcoming international fixtures.
Both Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres have been either out or struggling with injuries sustained in the last set of international games. International fixtures that had little meaning – with both Spain and England having qualified for the World Cup.
Benitez was pleased to report an improvement:
“The injury situation is improving, several players have been in light training and hopefully they will be able to do more over the next few days.
“Then we will see whether they can be available. There is a big difference, though, between being fit and being available.
Aurelio, Riera and Skrtel have all returned to training. Riera has been the most long term casualty of the three.
When asked about Gerrard and Torres – the boss said:
“Yesterday Gerrard was training and working with the physios. Will he be fit or just available? We don’t know yet.
“That is something we will have to look at. For 15 days he has been without training, so can he play? At the moment I do not know.
“Torres has been to Spain to see a specialist and we have discussed it all with our medical staff. He is a little better than he was before. He will train and work with the physios. Whether he will be okay to play against Birmingham, we do not know that either, yet.
“He could play and we must be careful with him. We will look at the situation after every training session.
“I have talked to the Spanish people, their technical director and their fitness coach. They have talked to the Spanish manager and they all know that Fernando has to work hard with the physios to improve his condition.
“Let us see how we do in the next game, then they will have 15 days of the international break to get fit, then let’s see how they are after that.
“I have discussed this all with the Spanish staff, it is not an agreement but they know the situation and they know he should not be involved.
“I have not spoken to the England staff, but they will surely know that Steven has not trained for two weeks and clearly cannot be fit for a friendly.”
Liverpool play on Monday night at Anfield against Birmingham.
poor Voronin.
if he dosnt play and we dont beat the bitter blue brummies,
then we cant blame him!!!
I think he will be sub. but lets wait and see.
Common reds lets give it to them.
THE MIGHTY REDS LFC
I would suggest that people read John Aldriges article in the Sunday World (Ireland) today.
Great piece and from the heart.
I hope Glen to be on the pitch, we need him the most, Degen is just like a losing card.
Babel, N’Gog, Eccleston. All deserve to be on the pitch more than Voronin, he is good for the Championship not the EPL
we don’t need robotic quality that comes in Riise and Kuyt,but rather skill in villa,Silva and young.wasteful Voronin,lazy Babel,sluggish Lucas out in January! Benayoun,and Reira should control the wings not robots.
Very easy to say that.
Entirely different thing to pay for it.
How can you say Lucas is lazy he has highest tackle % in prem. so you obviously are a supporter who just watches Match of the Day hear’s what the majority of people say and never actually watches Liverpool… Lucas has been awesome this season
Heard a rumour last week that Riise wants to come home and Dossena going the other way Now at least we know the quality Riise has, next one coming home will be Alonso on a loan deal and Villa and Silva in January……..
Come on Liverpool.
Yeh i heard about Riise, should stick him left wing, help improve squad depth, not sure about alonso though mate, think he is happy at Madrid and Villa and Silva will defo not
Torres whould be rested and Gerrard should be on the bench. Aquilani needs to get some quality game time and so should Babel. Hopefully Skytel & Reira can play and Bennayoun should try and attack more. Voronin gives away the ball more than keep the possession – he should not play. We need a sound midfield. I am not sure about Krygiakos…didn’t do it for me last couple games.
picturing Torres and Stevie on the bench we can then use Nando if needed. I hope Babel starts upfront would love Aquilani to start too but think he’ll be on the bench.
Reina
Carra
Agger
Skrtel
Insua
Masch
Lucas
Yossi
Kuyt
VORONIN
Babel
Hope I’m wrong though
Carras banned ………have to be Agger /Skirtle or KERR-YAKULT ha ha
Should start Ngog and Babel together
I think Torres should be used in second half of the game and Aguilani should be used so that he can feel the heat a little. Voronin should be sold in January when Gerrard is fit again, Dirk Kyt should not play in the first team let Ben & Riera control the wings.
He will most likely use Torres as a sub and even if Stevie’s on the bench don’t expect him to play much of a part because he was only in light training today so i would expect only a 10 min cameo if that !
If i was rafa i might try and kill these off early so i would start with an attacking side with the likes of Babel and Aquilani and depending on fitness Torres, really go for them and get a big score then tighten things up second half to squeeze out the space and allow the likes of torres the recovery that he needs .
I think Aquilani should start from beginning, and show us how good he is. Voronin should not play for Liverpool again he is bad luck for the Club.
I dont think Voronin is bad luck………….. he is just bad…
forgive me my spelling.
I aggree with you about aquilani, it´s about time we see what he is made of and play´s the brotherpart of the match. but i dissagree about voronin… he is not bad luck he is just bad. he dose not show any skill or fight for victory, he only fills his spot and hopes to finish his passings and dribles, If i could only see him in ONE hard battle for the ball and show him wanting the ball and wanting to attack that would make the day
I think Gerrard should not be rushed into the game. It’s about time Aquilani showed us what he is made of. Rafa should start Babel instead of the uninspiring Voronin. We will pull through.
I think Rafa should rest Torres and let gerrard a place in the bench so that he can getin his groove with a bit of matchtime
@Pranay You Are Right.