Injury Update + News
NEWS! GOOD NEWS! AHHHHH!
"Alonso trained today and is very close to a return. Agger is closer as well and Fabio could be back," commented Benitez.
TRIPLE INJURY BOOST FOR RAFA
Rafael Benitez has been handed a triple injury boost with the news that Xabi Alonso, Daniel Agger and Fabio Aurelio could be back for what promises to be one of the biggest weeks in the club's season so far.
The Reds boss revealed the trio are close to a return and added the club's medical staff will be assessing their fitness at Melwood on a daily basis. Jamie Carragher has also recovered from his bruised ribs and is line to play at Reading on Saturday.
"Alonso trained today and is very close to a return. Agger is closer as well and Fabio could be back," commented Benitez.
"Carra is okay and he can play at the weekend."
Despite crunch matches coming up against Marseille and Manchester United, Benitez is adamant his players will be fully focused on keeping up the pressure at the top of the table when they visit Reading this weekend.
Having scored 21 goals in their last five matches Liverpool are in a rich vein of form, and the boss admits he would be more than happy with a repeat of the scoreline that saw Fernando Torres fire a hat-trick in the Carling Cup tie back in September.
"I always think of one game at a time and the players know how important this match at Reading is," added the Reds boss.
"We need to be focused in every game and we want to keep the pressure up on the other teams.
"We have experience against Reading. I remember when we won 4-2 at Reading in the Carling Cup this season and people said it was an easy game. It wasn't. I remember watching the video of the game after the game and they gave us some problems, and it won't be easy. It will be a tough game against a side with a very good team spirit."
- He trained, he actually was on a football pitch!!! But I'm cool. ;) But WTH happend to Fabio?
GERRARD: TORRES IS FRIGHTENING
Steven Gerrard believes the combination of lethal finishing and hard work has made Fernando Torres one of the most 'frightening' strikers in the Premier League.
The skipper has been delighted by the way the Spaniard has adapted to life in England since his summer move from Atletico Madrid and revealed that it is is not just the forward's goals that have won him the admiration of his new teammates.
"Fernando is getting a lot of praise at the moment and rightly so because the way he has settled into English football has been amazing and the way he has played is frightening," said Gerrard.
"It can be difficult for players from abroad to settle into English football but at the moment Fernando looks like he's been playing here for years.
"Everyone is talking about the goals he has scored and the way he has scored them but I don't think we should lose sight of all the hard work he is putting in off the ball as well.
"He defends from the front and doesn't allow defenders to have a second on the ball. If they even think of dwelling on it he is on to them straight away.
"He is always looking to help the midfielders and the defenders and that makes a big difference.
"I've got to be honest, I'm made up to have him in our team."
In recent seasons the Reds have lacked the pace to seriously expose Premier League defences on a regular basis, but Gerrard reckons those days are now over, and is relishing the prospect of laying on more chances for 'El Nino' in the years to come.
"It is great to have someone who gives us that different option," he said. "Fernando loves running in behind defenders and that gives us the option of hitting him early before defences have even had a chance to react.
"He's had a great start to his career and long may it continue."
-> It's getting a bit to obvious, don't you think? Did he just demanded NOT to rotate Nando? Fuck! I'm with him, clearly, but...
"Alonso trained today and is very close to a return. Agger is closer as well and Fabio could be back," commented Benitez.
TRIPLE INJURY BOOST FOR RAFA
Rafael Benitez has been handed a triple injury boost with the news that Xabi Alonso, Daniel Agger and Fabio Aurelio could be back for what promises to be one of the biggest weeks in the club's season so far.
The Reds boss revealed the trio are close to a return and added the club's medical staff will be assessing their fitness at Melwood on a daily basis. Jamie Carragher has also recovered from his bruised ribs and is line to play at Reading on Saturday.
"Alonso trained today and is very close to a return. Agger is closer as well and Fabio could be back," commented Benitez.
"Carra is okay and he can play at the weekend."
Despite crunch matches coming up against Marseille and Manchester United, Benitez is adamant his players will be fully focused on keeping up the pressure at the top of the table when they visit Reading this weekend.
Having scored 21 goals in their last five matches Liverpool are in a rich vein of form, and the boss admits he would be more than happy with a repeat of the scoreline that saw Fernando Torres fire a hat-trick in the Carling Cup tie back in September.
"I always think of one game at a time and the players know how important this match at Reading is," added the Reds boss.
"We need to be focused in every game and we want to keep the pressure up on the other teams.
"We have experience against Reading. I remember when we won 4-2 at Reading in the Carling Cup this season and people said it was an easy game. It wasn't. I remember watching the video of the game after the game and they gave us some problems, and it won't be easy. It will be a tough game against a side with a very good team spirit."
- He trained, he actually was on a football pitch!!! But I'm cool. ;) But WTH happend to Fabio?
GERRARD: TORRES IS FRIGHTENING
Steven Gerrard believes the combination of lethal finishing and hard work has made Fernando Torres one of the most 'frightening' strikers in the Premier League.
The skipper has been delighted by the way the Spaniard has adapted to life in England since his summer move from Atletico Madrid and revealed that it is is not just the forward's goals that have won him the admiration of his new teammates.
"Fernando is getting a lot of praise at the moment and rightly so because the way he has settled into English football has been amazing and the way he has played is frightening," said Gerrard.
"It can be difficult for players from abroad to settle into English football but at the moment Fernando looks like he's been playing here for years.
"Everyone is talking about the goals he has scored and the way he has scored them but I don't think we should lose sight of all the hard work he is putting in off the ball as well.
"He defends from the front and doesn't allow defenders to have a second on the ball. If they even think of dwelling on it he is on to them straight away.
"He is always looking to help the midfielders and the defenders and that makes a big difference.
"I've got to be honest, I'm made up to have him in our team."
In recent seasons the Reds have lacked the pace to seriously expose Premier League defences on a regular basis, but Gerrard reckons those days are now over, and is relishing the prospect of laying on more chances for 'El Nino' in the years to come.
"It is great to have someone who gives us that different option," he said. "Fernando loves running in behind defenders and that gives us the option of hitting him early before defences have even had a chance to react.
"He's had a great start to his career and long may it continue."
-> It's getting a bit to obvious, don't you think? Did he just demanded NOT to rotate Nando? Fuck! I'm with him, clearly, but...