Liverpool sweat over Gerrard´s fitness

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is sweating over the fitness of captain Steven Gerrard after the England midfielder finished the Champions League defeat against Chelsea hampered by a groin injury.

Gerrard arrived at Liverpool’s training ground on Thursday for fitness tests on the problem and Benitez is praying he is given the all-clear as Liverpool head into the final weeks of the season.

The 29-year-old has suffered groin and hamstring injuries already this season and a decision has not been made over whether he needs a scan on that previous groin problem.

Before last night’s Champions League loss to Chelsea there had also been fears that Gerrard was still struggling from the ankle injury which forced to come off during Saturday’s win at Fulham.

If Gerrard can’t recover quickly, he is in danger of missing Liverpool’s crucial Premier League game with Blackburn as well as the second leg of the European tie at Stamford Bridge next Tuesday.

Speaking after Wednesday’s defeat, Benitez confirmed that Gerrard has been struggling with injuries “Steven was not 100 percent – you could see that. It was the same for Fernando Torres, you could see that they were a little tired, not as sharp as before,” he said.

“Steve was not as mobile as normally, Chelsea made it very difficult for him.

“The injury he had on Saturday was not the problem, his ankle was okay. But we do not know how he is, we will see on Thursday.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool keeper Jose Reina insists his side can still overturn the 3-1 deficit against Chelsea and reach the last four.

“The game is going to be much tougher now. We have to go to Stamford Bridge and beat them 3-1 or 3-0,” Reina told Sky Sports News.

“But, as I said before, we are capable of winning at any stadium. We know we have to put ourselves back on track and try not to make the same mistakes.”