Liverpool FC Forum

[Scottbot]

Gerrard boost for Reds
Captain could feature against City


Gerrard: Fitness boost


Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard could make a surprise return to action against Manchester City this weekend.

Gerrard is making good progress in his recovery from the hamstring problem he sustained in the FA Cup replay defeat to Everton earlier this month.

It was expected Gerrard would be ruled out for three weeks, with the UEFA Champions League clash with Real Madrid on 25th February pencilled in as his possible return date.

However, Reds boss Rafa Benitez is refusing to rule the England star out of Sunday's Premier League clash with Manchester City at Anfield.

Improving
"He is improving. In these situations each day is important," Benitez told the club's official website.

"He is working with the medical staff and is progressing.

"Normally he is a player who recovers quickly. He needs less time than other players.

"I was surprised because the Spanish press said he'd play some minutes this weekend and then play against Real Madrid, but the truth is we don't know yet.

"Maybe he could be on the bench against City but we don't know.

"He wants to play every single game. He knows the game against City will be very important, and also the Real Madrid one too."

[Scottbot]

RUSH: LAY-OFF WILL PROVIDE LIFT
Liverpool Echo 17 February 2009 

By the time Liverpool kick off against Manchester City on Sunday it will have been more than a fortnight since their last game – and for me those two weeks may be the most important of the season so far, writes Ian Rush in the Liverpool Echo. 

As a player you love the games to come thick and fast, especially at this stage of the season because the more matches you play the more likely it is that you are doing well.
 
But it is absolutely vital that you get some rest at the right times and this is exactly what Liverpool have just had.
 
They would much rather have been involved in FA Cup action at the weekend, there is no question about that, and I am sure all the players and staff at Anfield did not enjoy looking on as other teams took part in round five.
 
But you have to take the positives from every situation, and in this case the benefit to Liverpool was clear in that the cup weekend came hot on the heels of an international break and this has allowed them to recharge their batteries.
 
Even though several of Rafa Benitez’s players went off on international duty this could still be beneficial because sometimes you just need a change of scenery and a different environment before getting back to the daily grind at Melwood.
 
The two biggest plus points for me are that the break will have allowed Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to work on their fitness.
Gerrard, in particular, will have been delighted that there has only been one match since he picked up a hamstring tear against Everton.
 
At almost any other stage of the season Liverpool’s captain would have expected to miss several matches with that kind of injury.
 
So if it turns out that he only ends up missing one then it will be more than welcome both for him and for the team.
 
Torres had been looking a little short of his absolute sharpest after coming back from his own hamstring problems and this was why Benitez only brought him on during the final stages of Liverpool's 3-2 win at Portsmouth.
 
So the fact that he has since played an hour for Spain and has also had the opportunity to work on his overall fitness at Melwood is another boost to Liverpool.
 
The challenge now is to make the most of the recovery time that the last fortnight has afforded them.
 
There can be no excuses about tiredness when Manchester City come to Anfield because the Liverpool players should be as fresh as they have been at any other time this season.
 
I know Mark Hughes really well from our time as players with the Welsh national team and I think I can say without fear of contradiction he will be relishing the trip to Anfield.
 
As a player he was always renowned as being the man for the big occasion and as a former Manchester United star will know they don't come much bigger than this one.
 
It's hard to know what to make of City because their form has been in and out all season.
 
They've gone from putting six past Portsmouth at home to being comfortably beaten by the same opponents away - so it's hard to say which City side we will see on Sunday.
 
As the home side and the team that is going for the title Liverpool will be expected to break City down and I'm sure Mark Hughes will enjoy being the underdog.
 
The game could well turn into a battle similar to the one we saw at Eastlands earlier this season but like on that day Liverpool must ensure that it is they who emerge with all three points.

[Rockthekop]

We have to match (and better a few of) Man Utd results from the remaining games to win the league so every game is virtually a must win. 

We are only a few draws away from ending any hopes of winning the league for certain, although I can't help but feel Rafa has already blown our best chance in years.

[Reg]

We need the 3 points, Citeh are shíte and already look as though the Dream is over.


4 - 0 to the Reds. (Kuyt 4).   

[mkingdom]

It is highly likely we will be 5 points behind by kick off, so anything less than a convincing win hands the title to united.

Everything points to us strolling this....but I thought this before both Stoke games. 

[Toffeehater]

We need a win here anything bar that and this season is over league wise that is . I really hope stevie can at least make the bench

[Madmax]

must win match really crucial hoping fulham could hold mannure tonight but doubt it.

[Rockthekop]

Man Utd 2 up against Fulham, game over!

[JC_81]

EDIT

[tubby]

Meh I forgot they were playing.

[Madmax]

lol feck mannure

[account deleted by request]

I hope Gerrard only gets a light run out (if at all) I would prefer him to be fit for the rest of the league program rather than risked too early to make sure he is fit for R.Madrid.

I don't see citeh as being too much of a threat tbh. If we play a decent team against them I think we can win this comfortably by 2 or 3 goals. This would probably be a good game to re-introduce Insua instead of Dossena who I still think is a liability defensively, and I would prefer Agger for this one, but in all honesty I can't see that happening.

                        Reina
Arbeloa         Carra     Agger      Insua

Benayoun      Alonso/Lucas   Masch      Riera

                   Kuyt
                       Torres

Should be more than enough to see off Citeh.

EDITED as there may have been objections to us playing two goalkeepers 

[tubby]

Liverpool fan on 5live sucking Fergies .

[Madmax]

If we lose against citeh personally i think its all over.. Maybe going overboard but the task will be as difficult as ever

[mistyred]

Liverpool fan on 5live sucking Fergies .

Was it Lakes 


Sorry Lakes bad taste mate, Lol.