Liverpool Football Club News

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

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Gerrard close to full fitness

16 Sep 2008 - 09:24:12

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Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard insists he is fit enough to start Tuesday's Champions League clash with Marseille.

The 28-year-old England international had groin surgery just over two weeks ago that forced him to miss his country's World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia.

He began Saturday's Premier League victory over Manchester United on the substitute's bench and came on in the closing stages of the 2-1 win.

Gerrard was happy to come through that game with no ill-effects, telling the Reds' official website: "The manager did the sensible thing with me (against United).

"It was hard to sit and watch from the bench, but I'd only had one full training session.

"My heart was saying I was desperate to play, but there are another 40-50 games hopefully this season.

"I wasn't ready to start. I'd been training on my own for the last ten days. The most I could have played was 20-25 minutes.

"I'll have a few more sessions under my belt before Tuesday's game in Marseille and will be in better shape, but it'll be the manager's decision."