Liverpool FC

[LFCtorresLFC]

I don't think so, bench maybe at a push but considering Rafa has been saying that he shouldn't be rushed I think the game comes too soon for him unfortunately.

[Scouser_Dave]

Originally Posted by LFCtorresLFC

I don't think so, bench maybe at a push but considering Rafa has been saying that he shouldn't be rushed I think the game comes too soon for him unfortunately.

Why are we waiting though? He looked sharp in the ressies last night putting a few decent passes in. Don't see know reason why he couldn't make the bench

[LFCtorresLFC]

Originally Posted by Scouser_Dave

Why are we waiting though? He looked sharp in the ressies last night putting a few decent passes in. Don't see know reason why he couldn't make the bench

A reserve fixture is completely different to a first team game, nevermind what is usually our most intense match of the season.

If we rush him back we will just be like Roma who keep lengthening his injury layoffs by rushing him back.

He's been out since March, bit much to be back in the first team this quick imo.

[Dan]

Doubt he'll play.. Possibly the bench, but I don't reckon he'll come on.. We might possibly see him play against Arsenal, maybe a half or thirty/twenty minutes at the end, think that's more likely..

[FanTorresTastic]

Fernando Torres ready to face Manchester United but Steven Gerrard will miss out

Tony Barrett

Liverpool are unlikely to have Steven Gerrard available for the visit of Manchester United on Sunday but Fernando Torres has recovered sufficiently from a groin strain to be almost certain to take his place in Rafael Benítez’s starting line-up.
Benítez has had mixed news on the injury front with Torres, the Spain forward, and Glen Johnson, the right-back who also has a groin strain, responding well to treatment on their injuries.
However, the chances of Gerrard being fit for action only five days after he trudged off the Anfield turf with a recurrence of his abdominal problem are considered remote.
The Liverpool manager is also likely to have to make do without the services of Albert Riera, who has a hamstring strain, Martin Kelly, who picked up an ankle injury in Tuesday’s defeat by Lyons, and Alberto Aquilani, who is expected to be given more time to prove his fitness having been out of action for seven months.


Aquilani, signed from Roma in the summer for a fee of £20 million, came through a 15-minute run-out for Liverpool’s reserve team on Wednesday night with no ill effects.
The midfield player said afterwards that his return to first-team action will be dependent on the club’s medical and coaching staff being totally satisfied that he is ready to begin his career in the Barclays Premier League. “I am so happy because I haven’t played for a long time,” Aquilani said. “It was only 15 minutes but it was very important for me and for my confidence. Training is OK but to play a game is better.
“It’s important that my fitness is right. I’m here for five years and when I start playing, I don’t want to stop. The fans want to see me play and I want to play but the staff will ensure I don’t play for the first team until they think I’m ready.”
Having presided over Aquilani’s painstaking quest to regain full fitness, Benítez is loath to risk the Italy international before he is convinced that he is ready to deal with the rigours of Premier League football.
The chances are that the 25-year-old will have to wait until Liverpool meet Arsenal in the fourth round of the Carling Cup at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
“It depends on how he [Aquilani] is physically,” Benítez said. “He has got very good levels of stamina but now he has to improve his sharpness.
“To get match fitness, he needs to play games and what we have to do is analyse carefully which game is the best and how long he will play for.
“Always with a new player we talk about the problems they have settling down because the Premier League is very quick and more physical. So for a new player who has been injured, like Alberto, it will be even more difficult.”


Fernando Torres ready to face Manchester United but Steven Gerrard will miss out | Liverpool - Times Online

.......

[FormAtom_Juve]

Not needed, but I think it will be either a narrow loss or a draw to be honest. I can't see us winning with our current form.

[LFC-15-Benayoun]

If Aquilani is fit we need to play him, our squad needs a lift and he will give us that.. Im sorry but i just dont rate Lucas end of.

COME ON WE NEED A [Removed by Adroit - swearing] WIN SUNDAY

[kyro7]

Torres is still a big threat and can win a game on his own if the rest of the team play ok.

[FormAtom_Juve]

Originally Posted by LFC-15-Benayoun

If Aquilani is fit we need to play him, our squad needs a lift and he will give us that.. Im sorry but i just dont rate Lucas end of.

COME ON WE NEED A FU***** WIN SUNDAY

Aquilani is a big risk for sunday, it's a bit stupid risking him and having him on the treatment table even longer. Happened with Gerrard

[AnfieldG8]

Originally Posted by kyro7

Torres is still a big threat and can win a game on his own if the rest of the team play ok.

Unless he picks up the ball from defence and runs the whole field and scores...

He will get little to no service on Sunday. The only player that could feed him a ball is Yossi. Lucas and Masch may put the very rare one or two passes through but Yossi is more likely to feed Torres.

[LFCtorresLFC]

Originally Posted by LFC-15-Benayoun

If Aquilani is fit we need to play him, our squad needs a lift and he will give us that.. Im sorry but i just dont rate Lucas end of.

COME ON WE NEED A [Removed by Adroit - swearing] WIN SUNDAY

You'd risk his fitness over one game? The game is very important, granted, but is it worth Aquilani suffering a recurrance and being ruled out for months? I don't think so.

As for Lucas whether you rate him is irrelevant, fact is he's been performed better than Mascherano and Gerrard this season.

[EAUK_Adroit]

*Dons flame suit*

This is not going to be a popular decision but in order to help ease pressure on the database we are closing threads with posts over a certain amount. Feel free to create another Liverpool thread.