Steven Gerrard Likely to Miss Hull Game

Rafael Benítez has said that Steven Gerrard, his Liverpool captain, is unlikely to have recovered from a strained adductor muscle in time for Saturday's Premier League trip to Hull City.

Gerrard has missed Liverpool's last two matches, the 4–0 league victory over Blackburn and the Champions League quarter-final second leg at Chelsea, and is also out of tonight's Anfield game against Arsenal having aggravated the strain in training at Stamford Bridge last Monday evening. The England international was told he would be out for between "seven and 10 days" after undergoing a scan on his return from Stamford Bridge, putting his chances of playing at the KC Stadium in immediate doubt.

Liverpool will give their captain every opportunity to feature this weekend and Gerrard is continuing to receive intensive treatment at the club's Melwood training ground. Benítez, however, believes it will be difficult for the midfielder to start on Saturday. "It's always disappointing when Stevie isn't in the team but we have won games without him and played well without him at times this season," said the Liverpool manager. "We have quality in the squad and I am sure we can still play nice football, score goals and win games, whoever is in the team."