Defender Glen Johnson may be struggling to be fit for Liverpool’s home clash with Birmingham on Monday but he is convinced he is part of a squad good enough to turn around recent disastrous form.
The England man is still a major doubt with a calf injury that kept him out of the midweek Champions League draw in Lyon, and he is not expected to be fit to face the midlanders.
But he maintains the current Liverpool squad can still win major honours despite an erratic start to the season.
Johnson said: “People keep talking about us losing the title, they were doing it after we lost the first game of the season.
“We have got a fantastic group of players here. Everyone has been disappointed with the performances and results because we’ve got enough about us to do a lot better.
“There has always been a belief that we are equipped to beat any team we face but a lot has gone against us, especially luck, and it has cost us games.”
Liverpool will play a waiting game with the fitness of a string of top stars, including Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, as they prepare for Monday’s match.
Striker Torres returned to the club’s Melwood training ground yesterday after his whistle-stop trip to Valencia.
The Spaniard had sought a second opinion on his groin injury from specialist Ramon Cugat, who he has worked with before, and is also favoured by manager Rafael Benitez from his time at Valencia.
Spanish sources suggest Torres has been told to rest for three weeks, but Liverpool’s top scorer is still being considered for Monday’s match.
Torres is believed not to want to take that course of action, and has been in light training and will have further careful sessions over the weekend before a decision is made about his availability to face Birmingham.
Gerrard, with a lesser groin problem than Torres, has had another pain killing injection this week and also done some light training. He will continue in the same vein this weekend, when Benitez will also consider his fitness levels.
Liverpool also have Albert Riera (hamstring), Fabio Aurelio (calf) and Martin Skrtel (virus) likely to be back in action.
It is a match Liverpool must win if they are to continue their fight for what realistically is a top-four finish, with the title seemingly out of reach.
Benitez will be without the suspended Jamie Carragher and Philipp Degen for the clash with Birmingham.
The England man is still a major doubt with a calf injury that kept him out of the midweek Champions League draw in Lyon, and he is not expected to be fit to face the midlanders.
But he maintains the current Liverpool squad can still win major honours despite an erratic start to the season.
Johnson said: “People keep talking about us losing the title, they were doing it after we lost the first game of the season.
“We have got a fantastic group of players here. Everyone has been disappointed with the performances and results because we’ve got enough about us to do a lot better.
“There has always been a belief that we are equipped to beat any team we face but a lot has gone against us, especially luck, and it has cost us games.”
Liverpool will play a waiting game with the fitness of a string of top stars, including Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, as they prepare for Monday’s match.
Striker Torres returned to the club’s Melwood training ground yesterday after his whistle-stop trip to Valencia.
The Spaniard had sought a second opinion on his groin injury from specialist Ramon Cugat, who he has worked with before, and is also favoured by manager Rafael Benitez from his time at Valencia.
Spanish sources suggest Torres has been told to rest for three weeks, but Liverpool’s top scorer is still being considered for Monday’s match.
Torres is believed not to want to take that course of action, and has been in light training and will have further careful sessions over the weekend before a decision is made about his availability to face Birmingham.
Gerrard, with a lesser groin problem than Torres, has had another pain killing injection this week and also done some light training. He will continue in the same vein this weekend, when Benitez will also consider his fitness levels.
Liverpool also have Albert Riera (hamstring), Fabio Aurelio (calf) and Martin Skrtel (virus) likely to be back in action.
It is a match Liverpool must win if they are to continue their fight for what realistically is a top-four finish, with the title seemingly out of reach.
Benitez will be without the suspended Jamie Carragher and Philipp Degen for the clash with Birmingham.
No comments:
Post a Comment