Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, will give
Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard every chance to prove their
fitness before Manchester United visit Anfield in the Barclays
Premier League on Saturday.
Gerrard claimed last weekend that the United game would come
“too soon” as the midfield player recovers from groin surgery and
Torres, the striker, was ruled out initially for up to three weeks
after suffering a hamstring tear during the goalless draw away to
Aston Villa ten days ago.
“It is difficult to say if they can play because they may have
not played for ten or 15 days, but they are working hard and
improving, so there's still time to decide,” Benítez said.
Under the Spaniard, Liverpool have lost seven and drawn one of
eight Premier League matches against United, scoring only one goal
in the process, so the prospect of Gerrard and Torres, their
principal attacking threats, missing the game would be
significant.
United are expected to hand a debut to Dimitar Berbatov, the
Bulgaria striker signed from Tottenham Hotspur for £30.75million
last week.
Even without Gerrard and Torres, however, Benítez believes that
Liverpool have “enough quality in the squad” to trouble United, a
sentiment echoed by Álvaro Arbeloa, the defender, who expects his
Spain team-mate, Albert Riera, an £8million signing from Espanyol,
to make an immediate impact on his debut. “Fernando and Stevie are
probably our best players, but we can beat United without them,”
Arbeloa said. “We have Robbie Keane and Albert Riera.”
Spirit of Shankly, the Liverpool Supporters' Union, is to hold a
march in protest against Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, the
embattled owners. The march will begin at 11am on Saturday, outside
the Liverpool Supporters' Club on Lower Breck Road, and finish at
Anfield.
Robbie Fowler, the former Liverpool striker, is expected to sign
a three-month, pay-as-you-play deal with Blackburn Rovers next
week.
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