Liverpool Football Club News

• Nickname:Reds
• Founded:1892
• Manager:Kenny Dalglish

• Ground:Anfield
• Capacity:45,362

Benitez won't give up on duo

10 Sep 2008 - 07:52:11

Click To Enlarge

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has not given up hope of both Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard being fit for Saturday's Premier League clash with Manchester United.

Gerrard said last week he was unlikely to feature against United after having minor groin surgery but Benitez is more optimistic about his talismanic midfielder.

Torres is more likely to play after making better than expected progress from a hamstring injury, but Benitez said: "It is always more difficult to prepare for the match with injuries because you know that if they are fit we will use them, but in this case you never know.

"It is better to avoid saying whether they can be available - it is difficult to say if they can play or not because they may have not played for ten or 15 days.

"But they are both working hard with the physios and are improving, so there's still some time to decide.

"You never know, Steven Gerrard is still progressing. The key is the fitness of the player - it makes a massive difference if he has confidence. That is the main thing for him.

"Clearly we have enough quality in the squad, so it is always important to look to the other players and sometimes they can give more to you than the big names.

"They can have the same quality and passion and they also have a lot to prove to the supporters."