Steven Gerrard facing ‘crucial’ few days in Champions League fitness race - Liverpool FC latest

RAFA BENITEZ has admitted the next few days will be 'crucial' if Steven Gerrard is to avoid an operation to cure his troublesome groin problem.The Reds' skipper, along with Glen Johnson, has been ruled out of today's trip to Fulham after failing to respond sufficiently to treatment at Melwood.There is also a huge question over whether Gerrard will be fit to take his place in the squad that will travel to Lyon next Wednesday for a must win Champions League clash.Gerrard sustained the injury during England's 1-0 defeat in Ukraine on October 10 and has managed just 25 minutes of football since then.Benitez can ill-afford to lose his talisman for a lengthy period and hopes that scenario will be avoided if Gerrard can responded positively to further treatment at Melwood.'I think he is improving but we will have to see in the next week - that will be crucial in terms of a decision,' said Benitez.'He is working with the physios and I've been talking with him; he is progressing but it is slow, so we will see what we'll do if it does not progress as quickly as we think.'I do not think it is because of his age.'He has had these problems and sometimes you have to give the player time.'But when a player plays lots of games with his club and the national team, it is not easy to give him a rest; maybe we will have to manage in a different way in the future.

Source: Liverpool_Echo