United Game 'too Soon' for Gerrard's Liverpool Return
The Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has said he won't be fit in time for his side's crucial fixture against Manchester United
Steven Gerrard has told Rafael Benítez that he is unlikely to be fit for Manchester United's visit to Anfield on Saturday and that Liverpool have to abandon their natural caution to close the gap on the Premier League's leading teams.
The Liverpool manager has set Gerrard the optimistic target of this weekend's clash with the champions to return from two minor groin operations that caused him to miss England's World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia. Benítez is desperate to have his captain available to face United given that Fernando Torres is also scheduled to miss out with a hamstring injury. But Gerrard believes it would be too much of a risk to press him back into service just 15 days after going under the knife and that he should be spared until Liverpool's opening Champions League group game on September 16.
"That's a bit too soon," he said of a possible comeback against United. "I've a decent chance for the Champions League game in Marseille. I've spoken to the manager and told him I'd like to do a certain amount of training before I come back. I don't want to go into a big game only having had one session with the boys."
Regardless of whether he and Torres miss United's visit to Anfield, Gerrard believes Benítez's Liverpool have to show greater ambition against Sir Alex Ferguson's team and Chelsea than in recent seasons. "Against Chelsea in the cups, we've done them more than they've done us, but in the league we have to be a bit more attack-minded to win," added the Liverpool captain.
"Over the last couple of years we've gone into games against United and Chelsea very organized tactically - defensive if you like - and still lost 1-0. Have the same sound defence and show more bollocks going forward, and it could be 1-0 to us. In these matches the first goal is massive; if you concede it, nine times out of 10 you don't get back. It's important a few risks are taken to try to score that goal against these teams because it gives you such a psychological boost."
The Liverpool manager has set Gerrard the optimistic target of this weekend's clash with the champions to return from two minor groin operations that caused him to miss England's World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia. Benítez is desperate to have his captain available to face United given that Fernando Torres is also scheduled to miss out with a hamstring injury. But Gerrard believes it would be too much of a risk to press him back into service just 15 days after going under the knife and that he should be spared until Liverpool's opening Champions League group game on September 16.
"That's a bit too soon," he said of a possible comeback against United. "I've a decent chance for the Champions League game in Marseille. I've spoken to the manager and told him I'd like to do a certain amount of training before I come back. I don't want to go into a big game only having had one session with the boys."
Regardless of whether he and Torres miss United's visit to Anfield, Gerrard believes Benítez's Liverpool have to show greater ambition against Sir Alex Ferguson's team and Chelsea than in recent seasons. "Against Chelsea in the cups, we've done them more than they've done us, but in the league we have to be a bit more attack-minded to win," added the Liverpool captain.
"Over the last couple of years we've gone into games against United and Chelsea very organized tactically - defensive if you like - and still lost 1-0. Have the same sound defence and show more bollocks going forward, and it could be 1-0 to us. In these matches the first goal is massive; if you concede it, nine times out of 10 you don't get back. It's important a few risks are taken to try to score that goal against these teams because it gives you such a psychological boost."
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