Injury update

[CarraLegend]

Jeez!

 

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...091102-1449.htm

 

Rafa Benitez is hopeful of having summer signing Alberto Aquilani available for selection in Wednesday's crunch Champions League clash with Lyon.

The Italy international is recovering well from a virus which kept him out of Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Fulham.

 

His return to the squad would be a boost for Benitez, who will definitely be without Steven Gerrard (groin), Albert Riera (hamstring) and Martin Skrtel (muscle) for the Group E encounter.

 

"Aquilani had a virus. He trained today but was a little bit weak. Hopefully in two days' time he will be better," said Benitez.

 

"Gerrard won't travel to Lyon. He has no chance. He is improving but we have to wait. He has had an injection but we have to wait two or three days and see how he reacts.

 

"Skrtel has no chance. He has a small muscle problem. It's not too big but he is feeling something."

 

Meanwhile, the Liverpool manager will make late fitness calls on the recovering Daniel Agger (back), Glen Johnson (calf), Fabio Aurelio (calf) and David Ngog (ankle), none of whom travelled to Craven Cottage.

 

Benitez said: "Agger is improving - he will travel and we will then decide. He felt something in his back but it's much better now. We have to wait and see how he reacts.

 

"Fabio is improving but he still has a small problem in his calf, so we will have to wait.

 

"Ngog is much better, so he could be available.

 

"Johnson is training and working with the physios but he is a doubt at this moment. He will travel to Lyon and we will see."

 

Elsewhere, much was made of Benitez's decision to substitute Fernando Torres after 63 minutes of the Fulham loss with the score 1-1.

 

However, the boss feared his star striker could sustain a more serious injury had he stayed on the field.

 

Torres has yet to reach full fitness following an adductor injury suffered on international duty last month.

 

"I was surprised with the critics after the game because Fernando has had problems in the last month after the international games," said Benitez.

 

"We are trying to manage because he was close to having an operation. Still this morning, two days after the game, he is feeling something.

 

"He is not comfortable. He has not got the power he had before, so we have to manage and try to protect him. He cannot play well if you keep pushing him. Maybe if you push him he will be injured for a long time.

 

"So, I am really surprised with the critics. When you talk about big names, people just analyse the names and not how the player is when he is on the pitch. He was not 100 per cent fit.

 

"We have to take Fernando to Lyon because we don't have too many options. We have to keep working with him and the rest of the players."

Edited November 2, 2009 by CarraLegend

[Dan]

Doesn't get any better does it.

 

I think we can write Gerrard off for some time.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

The physio should be sent out to do the press conferences for the forthcomming games.

[CarraLegend]

Birmingham is going to be horrendous if we get beat by Lyon, they're s**** but pretty stubborn defensively and a lot of the crowd will be panicking if we arent 9-0 up after 10 minutes.

 

Oh and it'll be a freezing cold, miserable, wet monday night.

[billybunter]

if we lose or draw with lyon can we still go through? Going to be a mighty task to be them. Would have been tough enough with a fully fit squad let alone with what we have

[Zoob]

Worrying to see that Agger has a back problem - was hoping the op he had would sort that out, particularly since he was saying it was so bad before, he was considering quitting the game.

 

Even in the dark days of Souness and Phil Boersma's torture regime, I can't remember an injury situation as bad as this.

 

And stand by for Torres to just about get fit enough for Spain to call him up and injure him again in a couple of weeks

[Andy @ Allerton]

We'll beat Lyon 2-0, then go on to thump Birmingham 6-0 at Anfield with Aqua scoring 5.

 

Word.

[Superjay]

We'll beat Lyon 2-0, then go on to thump Birmingham 6-0 at Anfield with Aqua scoring 5.

 

Word.

 

He should get all 6 really.

[Andy @ Allerton]

He should get all 6 really.

 

 

Aye. Bloody waster

[Swipe]

Really need to hurry up and decide if Stevie needs this operation.

[richwilks]

They really need to start deciding if it would be easier to read off the names of the fit players.

[The Hitman]

I really wonder whether this back injury with Agger is entirely physical,maybe there's some kind of mental block in there.

[MarkD]

I really wonder whether this back injury with Agger is entirely physical,maybe there's some kind of mental block in there.

Carrying the barrels from the cellar

[allez les rouges]

agger still has a back injury, even after srugery. thats very worrying.

[Falconhoof]

I hope we have lawyers working on a claim to the FA, at the very least for Gerrards wages while he is out, the cost of the operation and any recovery time.

Though its obviously a wider loss than just the wages due to these international friendly injuries.

[Frosty Jack]

Who exactly is the physio now? Galleys return has unfortunately coincided with this nightmare, or he's at least brought back the gypsy curse.

[Benzo-13]

Worrying to see that Agger has a back problem - was hoping the op he had would sort that out, particularly since he was saying it was so bad before, he was considering quitting the game.

 

Even in the dark days of Souness and Phil Boersma's torture regime, I can't remember an injury situation as bad as this.

 

And stand by for Torres to just about get fit enough for Spain to call him up and injure him again in a couple of weeks

 

Kuusysi Lahti away was really bad.

[Maldini]

Galley only works at the academy

[Sion]

Kuusysi Lahti away was really bad.

 

the team wasn't even that bad

Rush, Grob, Nicol, McMahon, McManaman all played. The likes of Voronin and Kyrgiakos wouldn't have gotten close.

[Benzo-13]

the team wasn't even that bad

Rush, Grob, Nicol, McMahon, McManaman all played. The likes of Voronin and Kyrgiakos wouldn't have gotten close.

 

Barry Jones was hapless.

[Red]

agger still has a back injury, even after srugery. thats very worrying.

 

 

The game against Man U took it's toll

[Maldini]

What sort of team are we gonna have out on Wednesday? Our bench could be very young!

Reina

 

Darby

Carra

Kyrgiakos/Agger

Insua

 

Kuyt

Mascherano

Lucas

Benayoun

 

Aquilani/Voronin

Torres

 

Subs: Cavalieri, Dossena, Babel, Spearing, Plessis, Amoo, Eccleston

 

That's our whole squad. Any more injuries/illnesses and we won't have 7 on the bench. Anyone know if we can add more kids to the B list at any time?

[Hector McDougal]

Did GloJo travel? Rafa's press conference made it sound like he had a chance. Not much point in taking him if he's not fit for the bench at least.

[billybunter]

cant imagine Rafa would throw Aquilani into the mix, however desperate we are

[Dan]

cant imagine Rafa would throw Aquilani into the mix, however desperate we are

 

I can. He'd be more suited to a european game than a prem one at the moment imo.