Hopes rise that Steven Gerrard will be fit for Chelsea game

Apr 21 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Steven Gerrard

LIVERPOOL remain hopeful Steven Gerrard will be available for tomorrow’s Champions League semi-final first leg with Chelsea at Anfield.

Gerrard missed the 2-0 Premier League win at Fulham after injuring his neck during training last week.

The skipper is working with the club’s medical staff to ensure he can lead the team out as Liverpool aim to eliminate Chelsea from the last four for the third time in four years.

“With the neck, you never know,” said manager Rafael Benitez.

“The neck is always dangerous so you need to wait.

“I think he was a little bit better on Saturday. We’ll wait.

“We had (similar) problems with Reina and Finnan and they needed time. So we will see.

“The other day, he wanted to play but he was only able to look to the right, so I told him he could play as a left winger! We’ll see if he can turn his head round and look the other way now.

“We will talk together, with the doctor. The player will say he wants to play, but there’s an easy way of finding out whether he’s fit. I will come up and tap him on the left shoulder and if he turns to face me without any pain, we will know he can play.”

Joking aside, Benitez had positive news on defender Sami Hyypia, who should be fit to play despite being withdrawn at half-time at Craven Cottage after a clash of heads which left him feeling dizzy.

“I think he’ll be okay,” said Benitez. “He felt a little bit dizzy after a knock to the head but I think it’s okay now.”

Javier Mascherano will also be available despite sustaining a number of bumps at the weekend.