Gerrard rested as Liverpool eye Champions League
LIVERPOOL, England, April 27 (Reuters) - Liverpool are to rest key
players, including Steven Gerrard, on Saturday to be fresh for next
week's Champions League semi-final second leg with Chelsea.
Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and keeper Jose Reina will be left
at home when the squad travel for the match at
Portsmouth.
Manager Rafael Benitez told reporters on Friday: 'Steven Gerrard
will watch the game at home in front of his television and I will
rest other players.
'The priority of my club is getting through the semi-final and
reaching the final of the Champions League. If we finished third in
the premiership it would be really good, but to play in the final
of the Champions League would be better.'
Ahead of the match with Chelsea at Anfield on Tuesday when Chelsea
will carry forward their 1-0 first leg lead, Benitez has dismissed
manager Jose Mourinho's attempts at mind games.
He said: 'We know him. I have some friends in Portugal and it is
the same in Portugal. Everyone knows him and why he says
things.
'Sometimes when you have a very good team and a very good squad and
some of the best players in the world, you don't need to do all
these things.'
Benitez entered some verbal jousting of his own by suggesting
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba may not be on top of his game on
Tuesday as another booking will leave him suspended for the
final.
