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Returning stars will boost Liverpool's top-four push - Rafael Benitez
Rafa reckons key men will be fresh for run-in...
6 Mar 2010 02:07:00
By Mick Maguire
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has suggested that his star men may be returning to action just in time to help close out an otherwise miserable season in style.
Playmakers Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun are now back in the thick of things after several weeks out, while Fernando Torres marked his return to the first team last weekend with the winning goal against Blackburn Rovers.
And while the losses of Martin Skrtel and Fabio Aurelio have put a slight dampener on the squad, Benitez is feeling optimistic as the final stretch wheels into view.
"The players we have coming back now, and how fresh they are, can have an influence on the run-in for sure," he told the press.
"If we don't have any more injury problems this season, and already we have lost Skrtel and Aurélio in the last week, then it could be that our players will be fresher and have more energy than the other teams for the final games of the season. Hopefully it can work out in our favour. Hopefully.
"Because of the injury situation we couldn't change too many players this season and some players have played too many games because we couldn't give them a rest. We have had to manage in a different way but I still think we can be strong as usual in the second half of the season."
Glen Johnson is another who has been anchored to the sidelines, with the England wing-back - one of the Reds' star performers earlier in the season - in line to face Wigan Athletic on Monday night.
Benitez revealed: "He trained yesterday, it was a full training session, and I think he will be OK to go in the squad for Wigan. We have two more training sessions before then so we will have to see, but I think he will be OK."
Meanwhile, Sotirios Kyrgiakos returns from a three-match ban for his red card in the Merseyside derby last month.
Playmakers Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun are now back in the thick of things after several weeks out, while Fernando Torres marked his return to the first team last weekend with the winning goal against Blackburn Rovers.
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And while the losses of Martin Skrtel and Fabio Aurelio have put a slight dampener on the squad, Benitez is feeling optimistic as the final stretch wheels into view.
"The players we have coming back now, and how fresh they are, can have an influence on the run-in for sure," he told the press.
"If we don't have any more injury problems this season, and already we have lost Skrtel and Aurélio in the last week, then it could be that our players will be fresher and have more energy than the other teams for the final games of the season. Hopefully it can work out in our favour. Hopefully.
"Because of the injury situation we couldn't change too many players this season and some players have played too many games because we couldn't give them a rest. We have had to manage in a different way but I still think we can be strong as usual in the second half of the season."
Glen Johnson is another who has been anchored to the sidelines, with the England wing-back - one of the Reds' star performers earlier in the season - in line to face Wigan Athletic on Monday night.
Benitez revealed: "He trained yesterday, it was a full training session, and I think he will be OK to go in the squad for Wigan. We have two more training sessions before then so we will have to see, but I think he will be OK."
Meanwhile, Sotirios Kyrgiakos returns from a three-match ban for his red card in the Merseyside derby last month.
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