Rafael Benitez is ready to turn to Steven Gerrard to help keep alive Liverpool’s Champions League dream this evening.
The Anfield skipper is poised to start for Benitez’s side as they attempt another unlikely European comeback against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool need to score at least three goals after they were stunned by the Londoners 3-1 in last Wednesday’s quarter-final first leg.
Gerrard remained on the bench for Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing of Blackburn Rovers after suffering an adductor injury that hampered his performance against Chelsea.
But Benitez has revealed the 28-year-old’s fitness is improving and is prepared to take a “calculated risk” by naming him in the starting line-up tonight. The Liverpool manager said: “I think that Gerrard wants to play.
“We have to train and talk with him. He’s had the problem before and was playing. Now we need people who are 100% fit, so it would be a calculated risk.
“On Saturday, if we needed him from the bench, then we knew we could use him. But coming on as a substitute, the warm-up is different so it’s maybe more difficult doing that.
“If he’s available, I’d like to play him from the beginning. Steven is getting better, he has been working with the physios and we will discuss the situation with the doctors.
“Steven will travel with the party to London and I will make a decision before the game.
“We are 3-1 down and we know that everything can change if we have Steven in the side and he plays well.
“We are professionals, and we have our pride and we want to do something. We will try to do our best to do something. We don’t play for another week so we have enough time to recuperate the players.”
That Benitez is not tempted to wrap Gerrard in cotton wool for Liverpool’s Premier League title challenge underlines the belief the tie is not yet over.
Fabio Aurelio is poised to return at left-back for the ineligible Emiliano Insua, with the manager having to decide whether to recall Martin Skrtel in place of Daniel Agger at centre-back.
Liverpool’s pressing need for goals means Benitez accepts his team must strike early to have any chance of reaching a 10th European Cup semi-final.
However, the Spaniard has taken heart from the way in which Bolton Wanderers scored three goals in their 4-3 defeat at Stamford Bridge on Saturday to expose frailties in
a back-line that will be without the suspended John Terry.
“When you concede three goals in a few minutes like Chelsea did against Bolton, then clearly you are a little bit nervous,” said Benitez. “It’s a good example that if we can score, then it can put Chelsea under a little bit of pressure.
“To score an early goal would help us play with more confidence and it would make Chelsea think they have to be careful and not make any mistakes.
“If we score an early goal, there might be extra motivation for the players. The first goal will be vital, and for us it can be a massive difference.
“We know we can do it. We have the experience of Old Trafford. We can score goals away against the top sides. We have to approach this game believing we can do well.
“The players have a lot of confidence.
“Training yesterday was good, we know it will be difficult but we have confidence and we will go there in the knowledge we are a top side and believe that we can do it.”
The Anfield skipper is poised to start for Benitez’s side as they attempt another unlikely European comeback against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool need to score at least three goals after they were stunned by the Londoners 3-1 in last Wednesday’s quarter-final first leg.
Gerrard remained on the bench for Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing of Blackburn Rovers after suffering an adductor injury that hampered his performance against Chelsea.
But Benitez has revealed the 28-year-old’s fitness is improving and is prepared to take a “calculated risk” by naming him in the starting line-up tonight. The Liverpool manager said: “I think that Gerrard wants to play.
“We have to train and talk with him. He’s had the problem before and was playing. Now we need people who are 100% fit, so it would be a calculated risk.
“On Saturday, if we needed him from the bench, then we knew we could use him. But coming on as a substitute, the warm-up is different so it’s maybe more difficult doing that.
“If he’s available, I’d like to play him from the beginning. Steven is getting better, he has been working with the physios and we will discuss the situation with the doctors.
“Steven will travel with the party to London and I will make a decision before the game.
“We are 3-1 down and we know that everything can change if we have Steven in the side and he plays well.
“We are professionals, and we have our pride and we want to do something. We will try to do our best to do something. We don’t play for another week so we have enough time to recuperate the players.”
That Benitez is not tempted to wrap Gerrard in cotton wool for Liverpool’s Premier League title challenge underlines the belief the tie is not yet over.
Fabio Aurelio is poised to return at left-back for the ineligible Emiliano Insua, with the manager having to decide whether to recall Martin Skrtel in place of Daniel Agger at centre-back.
Liverpool’s pressing need for goals means Benitez accepts his team must strike early to have any chance of reaching a 10th European Cup semi-final.
However, the Spaniard has taken heart from the way in which Bolton Wanderers scored three goals in their 4-3 defeat at Stamford Bridge on Saturday to expose frailties in
a back-line that will be without the suspended John Terry.
“When you concede three goals in a few minutes like Chelsea did against Bolton, then clearly you are a little bit nervous,” said Benitez. “It’s a good example that if we can score, then it can put Chelsea under a little bit of pressure.
“To score an early goal would help us play with more confidence and it would make Chelsea think they have to be careful and not make any mistakes.
“If we score an early goal, there might be extra motivation for the players. The first goal will be vital, and for us it can be a massive difference.
“We know we can do it. We have the experience of Old Trafford. We can score goals away against the top sides. We have to approach this game believing we can do well.
“The players have a lot of confidence.
“Training yesterday was good, we know it will be difficult but we have confidence and we will go there in the knowledge we are a top side and believe that we can do it.”
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