Source: SKY_Sports
Rafa fears Gerrard absence
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez admits captain Steven Gerrard is in a race against time to be fit for Saturday's Premier League match with Hull City.
The England star has been ruled out of Tuesday's home clash with Arsenal, which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1, with a groin injury and he could now also miss the trip to the KC Stadium.
Gerrard was an unused substitute for the 4-0 victory over Blackburn on 11th April and was then ruled out of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second-leg draw at Chelsea after aggravating an adductor muscle problem in training.
And Benitez has admitted that it will be "difficult" for his inspirational skipper to be at 100 per cent for the coming weekend.
However, the Liverpool boss is confident that his title-chasing squad can cope without Gerrard, who may not return until the Anfield visit of Newcastle on 3rd May.
"It's always disappointing when Stevie isn't in the team but we have won games without him and played well without him at times this season," said Benitez.
"We have quality in the squad and I am sure we can still play nice football, score goals and win games, whoever is in the team."
Benitez is also hopeful that Liverpool's main league rivals, Manchester United and Chelsea, will be distracted by their continuing exploits in Europe.
Ahead of the visit of Arsenal, Liverpool sit one point behind leaders United but have played one game more than the defending champions.
100 per centAnd Benitez knows that the Reds will need a faultless record in their remaining six games if they are to stand a chance of wining a first title in 19 years.
"For us the important thing is to do our job, to prepare properly for every game and look to take three points from each of them," he told Liverpool's official website.
"If we do that and then still can't win the league then there's nothing else we can do. It still depends on United, but we have to keep the pressure on them. If we win tonight (against Arsenal) then we go back to the top and put them under more pressure for tomorrow night.
"Hopefully the other teams around us are distracted by the Champions League. When you are playing in two massive competitions it can be difficult and so we have to be ready if other teams make a mistake."
