Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez is hoping Steven Gerrard will be fit enough for the Premier League run-in after his groin problem flared up again.
The midfielder had been expected to appear at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League on Tuesday, but did not even make the subs bench.
Benitez revealed: "He felt something, so he was unavailable.
"We felt he could be available but he wasn't. But it's not serious and hopefully he will be OK."
What was originally viewed as a relatively minor thigh injury sustained at Anfield in the first-leg defeat to Chelsea soon developed into a more serious complication.
Gerrard played no part in the 4-0 League win over Blackburn last weekend after Benitez had said the club needed to manage him carefully over the final weeks of the season.
And he had to watch from the directors' box as Liverpool and Chelsea fought out an epic 4-4 draw in the quarter-final second leg, with Chelsea advancing 7-5 on aggregate.
Next Tuesday's showdown at home to Arsenal looks the toughest of Liverpool's remaining six matches as they hunt their first League title since 1990.
Benitez said Gerrard picked up a niggle in the final training session at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday and said it was "an easy decision" not to play the 28-year-old.
"To lose a key player is always important and especially a player like Gerrard but credit to the other players because they did a fantastic job," he went on.
"Maybe the result is a positive because we saw we can score four goals here and we can do the same in any stadium. We can win a lot of games with this mentality.
"We showed character, quality and we have to be really proud. The fans will be very pleased with the team."
The midfielder had been expected to appear at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League on Tuesday, but did not even make the subs bench.
Benitez revealed: "He felt something, so he was unavailable.
"We felt he could be available but he wasn't. But it's not serious and hopefully he will be OK."
What was originally viewed as a relatively minor thigh injury sustained at Anfield in the first-leg defeat to Chelsea soon developed into a more serious complication.
Gerrard played no part in the 4-0 League win over Blackburn last weekend after Benitez had said the club needed to manage him carefully over the final weeks of the season.
And he had to watch from the directors' box as Liverpool and Chelsea fought out an epic 4-4 draw in the quarter-final second leg, with Chelsea advancing 7-5 on aggregate.
Next Tuesday's showdown at home to Arsenal looks the toughest of Liverpool's remaining six matches as they hunt their first League title since 1990.
Benitez said Gerrard picked up a niggle in the final training session at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday and said it was "an easy decision" not to play the 28-year-old.
"To lose a key player is always important and especially a player like Gerrard but credit to the other players because they did a fantastic job," he went on.
"Maybe the result is a positive because we saw we can score four goals here and we can do the same in any stadium. We can win a lot of games with this mentality.
"We showed character, quality and we have to be really proud. The fans will be very pleased with the team."
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