Benitez bemoans injury woes

Gerrard, Torres & Johnson major doubts for Utd clash

Last updated: 21st October 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Benitez bemoans injury woes

Benitez: Under pressure

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Under-pressure Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez admits he is facing the worst injury crisis he has had to contend with at Anfield.

Benitez has a number of problems ahead of this weekend's make-or-break showdown with arch-rivals Manchester United.

Key trio Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson are all major doubts for the United test as Benitez looks to end his side's slump in form.

Torres and Johnson both missed Tuesday's dramatic UEFA Champions League defeat to Lyon through injury, while Gerrard limped out of the match in the first half with a recurrence of his groin problem.

Benitez, who is finding himself under growing pressure at Anfield after overseeing their worst losing run since 1987, is waiting to find out the extent of the injury problems with Albert Riera and Martin Kelly also struggling with knocks.

"We have just too many problems, I cannot remember an injury situation like this," bemoaned Benitez.

"There are other players with other problems, I have no idea what team I can put out against Manchester United until we have had the players tested and seen by the medical team."

The Spaniard also explained the decision to take off Yossi Benayoun and send on Andriy Voronin in the closing stages against Lyon - a choice that was booed by the Kop.

"The fans know Yossi is a good player, but I felt he was getting a little tired and I wanted to use some fresh legs. We needed to change something, to put a fresher man on, and it was a chance worth taking," concluded Benitez.