Liverpool sweating on Gerrard fitness
Steven Gerrard facing fitness race
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Thursday, 09, Apr 2009 08:38
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard faces an anxious wait to see if he will fit for the crucial games against Blackburn Rovers and Chelsea.
Gerrard was an injury doubt ahead of the Champions League first-leg against Chelsea on Wednesday after going off with an ankle injury against Fulham last Saturday. He struggled in the 3-1 defeat to the Blues and there are fears he may have suffered another major injury.
The inspirational midfielder missed games with hamstring and groin problems earlier this season and had fitness tests at the Liverpool training ground in Melwood today and the club are now awaiting results of the tests.
"Steven was not 100 per cent (against Chelsea) - you could see that," said Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez. "The injury he had on Saturday was not the problem, his ankle was okay. But we do not know how he is, we will see tomorrow.
"But credit to Chelsea, they were always controlling Steven and making it difficult for him to play. He was not as mobile as normally, Chelsea made it very difficult for him."
Gerrard was hardly in the game against Chelsea as he was man-marked by Michael Essien. But Liverpool will be desperate to have their captain fit for the second-leg if they are to have any chance of causing a major shock at Stamford Bridge.