Liverpool FC fume over Steven Gerrard FA medical

Nov 18 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Steven Gerrard celebrates _200

LIVERPOOL are unhappy with the actions of the Football Association after an injured Steven Gerrard was ordered to travel south to link up with the England squad.

The Anfield outfit declared Gerrard unfit to feature in his country’s friendly against Germany tomorrow after a scan revealed the midfielder suffered a minor groin tear during the weekend win at Bolton Wanderers.

However, despite Liverpool withdrawing their skipper from the squad, the FA insisted the player journey to England’s base at Watford to be checked over by their own medical staff.

The initial diagnosis was yesterday proven to be correct and Gerrard was released to return to Merseyside for treatment.

But by ordering Gerrard to travel for a second scan, the implication from the FA is that Liverpool were lying over the extent of the midfielder’s injury.

And that has not gone down well at Anfield, particularly as Gerrard is facing a race against time to be fit for the Champions League group game with Marseille a week tomorrow.

The 28-year-old is already a major doubt for Saturday’s Premier League visit of Fulham and manager Rafael Benitez said: “We had to do a scan after the Bolton game because Steven said he had some pain in his groin.

“It is not a massive problem and we hope he will be ready to return in seven to 10 days.”

Victory over Marseille would guarantee progress to the knockout stages and give Liverpool a chance of

winning the group ahead of Atletico Madrid.

And Dirk Kuyt, who also netted against Bolton, believes Liverpool dare not take their foot off the gas in their hunt for a first title in 19 years.

Before their next assignment against a top-four side, at Arsenal on December 21, Benitez’s side have three home league games against Fulham, West Ham United and Hull City and also travel to Blackburn Rovers.

But Kuyt has warned against complacency in the next month.