Liverpool Football Club News

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

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Rafa waits on injured duo

22 May 2007 - 16:54:18

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Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez still has injury doubts over Bolo Zenden and Mohamed Sissoko for the Champions League final against AC Milan but insists Harry Kewell is fit enough to play.

Benitez will decide whether the injured duo can feature in Athens' Olympic Stadium on Wednesday after watching the players in a final training session.

"I have decisions to make on the team," confirmed the Reds boss. "We have 22 players here so four of them won't be involved at all tomorrow.

"Of those who will be in the squad I have good options, but we'll decide later on after training.

"We have another training session and we have to check Sissoko and Zenden – they have had some problems, so we need to check them.

"Is Harry Kewell ready? Yes, I think so.

"We are here because we have been doing the right things and we deserve to be here.

"The players have worked hard all season and I will be telling them before kick-off not to waste this opportunity. If we can play well and win then it will be perfect, but if not then they must come off the field knowing they have done their best.

"We worked hard in the training camp to prepare for the game and the players are focused on being ready. We know what we need to do but playing a Champions League final is never easy. It wasn't easy last time (in 2005) and it won't be easy this time.

"We have a lot of respect for Milan, they are a very good side with a lot of experience, and we saw from their game against Manchester United what they can do.

"If they play like that again and have a lot of the ball then it will be harder for us, but we have prepared how to control their players, the ball and the space on the pitch. We are ready now."