Rafa admits Gerrard concerns
Steven Gerrard picked up a thigh injury in the 3-1 defeat to Chelsea in mid-week
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Friday, 10, Apr 2009 10:33
Rafael Benitez has revealed that Steven Gerrard will be nursed through the final weeks of the season.
The Liverpool skipper is set to be on the bench for Saturday's clash with Blackburn Rovers because of a troublesome groin injury.
Gerrard also had a scan on a thigh injury picked up in the 3-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League tie on Wednesday.
Benitez said the midfielder cannot play two games in four days, and will start in the second leg against Chelsea on Tuesday.
The Spaniard said the club were aware of the 28-year-old's worsening groin problem even before last weekend's win at Fulham.
"If he breaks down now we could lose him for two or three weeks and that would be a serious blow. It depends on him and how he feels," Benitez said.
"We have been talking about the fitness of players like Steven for a long time, do we have rotation or do we keep our key players on the pitch?
"We have had that problem with Fernando Torres and now Gerrard. We have two games in four days, both very important to our ambitions.
"After that, even if we qualify and have a Champions League semi-final, that is only two more games. We will be playing virtually one game a week and that makes it easier to manage the situation regarding Steven's fitness."
Gerrard is thought to have returned from England duty - having figured in both the Slovakia friendly and the World Cup qualifying win over Ukraine - with the groin injury.
Liverpool are second in the Premier League table, one point behind Manchester United who have a game in hand.