Steven Gerrard will miss Liverpool's Carling Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane tomorrow night after Rafael Benítez confirmed that his captain needs to be spared for the club's pursuit of the title.
The Liverpool midfielder has appeared in every Premier League and Champions League game for his club when fit this season, missing only the goalless draw at Aston Villa due to a groin problem that hindered his pre-season programme, but will head a cast of senior players Benítez is expected to leave out of the fourth-round contest.
"Stevie needs a bit of rest," said the Liverpool manager, who has to decide whether to field Fernando Torres against Spurs following his return from a hamstring injury. "He was injured during the international break and it is important to try and keep players fit all the time."
Benítez has also insisted Liverpool's eight-point advantage over Manchester United with a third of the title race gone is not a cause for premature celebration. The Spaniard said: "I don't think I will be celebrating until the gap is 20 points. If you spend the whole time with a calculator considering what others are doing, it will drive you crazy. You must concentrate on what you are doing. United still have a game in hand and the ability to make up points in just two other games is not that difficult for them."
He added: "We have confidence and are playing well, so we know we can be up there at the top. We know it is a long race and must keep going. It is still too soon to be thinking in those terms about other teams. There are too many games, in league and cups, and many things can happen.
"But things are very positive. We were top before and we wanted to be top again. The win over West Brom put us back up at the top and we must continue to put pressure on our rivals. We are playing well, scoring goals, but it could be better even though we are pleased."
The Liverpool midfielder has appeared in every Premier League and Champions League game for his club when fit this season, missing only the goalless draw at Aston Villa due to a groin problem that hindered his pre-season programme, but will head a cast of senior players Benítez is expected to leave out of the fourth-round contest.
"Stevie needs a bit of rest," said the Liverpool manager, who has to decide whether to field Fernando Torres against Spurs following his return from a hamstring injury. "He was injured during the international break and it is important to try and keep players fit all the time."
Benítez has also insisted Liverpool's eight-point advantage over Manchester United with a third of the title race gone is not a cause for premature celebration. The Spaniard said: "I don't think I will be celebrating until the gap is 20 points. If you spend the whole time with a calculator considering what others are doing, it will drive you crazy. You must concentrate on what you are doing. United still have a game in hand and the ability to make up points in just two other games is not that difficult for them."
He added: "We have confidence and are playing well, so we know we can be up there at the top. We know it is a long race and must keep going. It is still too soon to be thinking in those terms about other teams. There are too many games, in league and cups, and many things can happen.
"But things are very positive. We were top before and we wanted to be top again. The win over West Brom put us back up at the top and we must continue to put pressure on our rivals. We are playing well, scoring goals, but it could be better even though we are pleased."
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