Gerrard will not be going to Lyon
Stephen Gerrard has definitely been ruled out of Liverpool’s Champions League trip to Lyon tomorrow, but striker Fernando Torres will be on the plane despite having been taken off at Fulham in a bid to protect his muscle injury.
Albert Riera (hamstring), Martin Kelly (ankle) and Martin Skrtel (muscle and virus), are also definitely out of the Group E match but £20million Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani will be available for selection after recovering from a virus.
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.”
Benitez again explained his decision to substitute Torres at Fulham, saying: “I was surprised with the criticism after the game because Fernando has had problems in the last month after the international games.
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% 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.”
Lyon currently top the Champions League Group E table with a maximum of 9 points, followed by Fiorentina with 6 points and then in third place Liverpool, who have managed to win just one game so far.
It goes without saying that Liverpool need to win at the Stade De Gerland tomorrow if they want to retain any serious hopes of qualifying for the last 16.
Stephen Gerrard has definitely been ruled out of Liverpool’s Champions League trip to Lyon tomorrow, but striker Fernando Torres will be on the plane despite having been taken off at Fulham in a bid to protect his muscle injury.
Albert Riera (hamstring), Martin Kelly (ankle) and Martin Skrtel (muscle and virus), are also definitely out of the Group E match but £20million Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani will be available for selection after recovering from a virus.
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.”
Benitez again explained his decision to substitute Torres at Fulham, saying: “I was surprised with the criticism after the game because Fernando has had problems in the last month after the international games.
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% 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.”
Lyon currently top the Champions League Group E table with a maximum of 9 points, followed by Fiorentina with 6 points and then in third place Liverpool, who have managed to win just one game so far.
It goes without saying that Liverpool need to win at the Stade De Gerland tomorrow if they want to retain any serious hopes of qualifying for the last 16.
