Gerrard dipertaruhkan

LONDON - Pengurus Liverpool, Rafael Benitez bakal membahayakan ketua pasukan Steven Gerrard yang tercedera bagi menghadapi perlawanan kedua suku akhir bola sepak Liga JuaraJuara di Chelsea, esok.

Gerrard direhatkan ketika kemenangan Liverpool 4-0 dalam aksi Liga Perdana ke atas Blackburn Rovers, Sabtu lalu dengan satu kecederaan pangkal paha tetapi Benitez berharap dia mampu pulang dalam usaha Liverpool mengubah kedudukan ketinggalan 3-1 di Stamford Bridge itu.

"Dia bertambah baik tetapi dia masih berusaha dengan ahli fisioterapinya untuk terus mengekalkan kecergasan," kata Benitez kepada Sky Sports, kelmarin.

"Kami ada satu lagi hari latihan dan kemudian selepas itu, kami akan melihat bagaimana dia rasa," katanya.

"Ia mencipta satu kelainan jika kami bermain dengannya. Jelasnya, kami memerlukannya, dia seorang pemain penting bagi kami.

"Semuanya mampu berubah jika dia boleh bermain dan jika dia bermain baik.

"Kami akan bercakap dengan doktor dan dengannya sebelum perlawanan.

"Ia bukan satu risiko yang besar tetapi ada sesuatu yang kecil kerana anda boleh kehilangan pemain itu selama 10-15 hari dan ia mungkin buruk," katanya. - Reuters

Gerrard: I've paid the price for versatility

• Liverpool and England midfielder Steven Gerrard feels his game has suffered because of his versatility.
  

Gerrard: Has suffered by being played out of position.

The 28-year-old favours a central position but has frequently been used on the left and right with both club and country.

Gerrard told the Sunday Times: ''I've paid the price for being able to do a decent job in other positions.

''Other players don't get shunted around because they can't do it. I can't go and play on the right or the left and become Kaka or Robinho, I just go out there, give 100% and do a steady job.

''I'll work hard, do my bit defensively and help the team. That's why managers do it to me, but it is affecting me.

''My game suffers when my position is changed. I'm a central midfielder and in the big games I want to play in the middle and show that I'm one of the very best in that position.

''I've played in my favourite position for England five times in 68 games. What can you do? I go into training with England and try to prove myself every day.

''Every England manager I've worked under knows where I want to play, but they pick the formations and I play where I'm told.''

Gerrard will miss England's crunch World Cup qualifying clash with Croatia on Wednesday after undergoing groin surgery.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was hoping his captain would be fit to face Manchester United next weekend, but Gerrard insists that is too soon.

''I've a decent chance for the Champions League game in Marseille [September 16],'' he continued.

''I've spoken to the manager and told him I'd like to do a certain amount of training before I come back. I don't want to go into a big game only having had one session with the boys.''