Benitez urges Gerrard caution

Reds boss says skipper can't play for Three Lions

By James Riach   Last updated: 8th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Benitez urges Gerrard caution

Gerrard: Not fully fit

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Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has urged England not to play Steven Gerrard in next week's international friendly.

Gerrard has been out for the Reds with a groin injury which he aggravated while on international duty last time out, and club versus country tensions are already running high.

Benitez hopes Fabio Capello will use common sense for the game against Brazil in Doha, and says he should not play a part even if he features for Liverpool against Birmingham on Monday.

"I don't see the point of taking a player who has not trained with the team for 15 days," Benitez said in the News of the World.

"If he plays on Monday it will be because we have pushed and pushed him, but you cannot tell me when he has not trained with us for 15 days that he is fit.

"He can be available maybe if everything is okay but he is not match fit. So to play friendlies with him when England have already qualified, I would be really surprised.

"I will be really surprised to see my players playing friendlies when they are not fit for my team.

Common sense

"There has been no agreement but is just common sense. Common sense is just something you have to use.

"I am sure that they understand. I hope common sense will prevail. Our doctor is in contact with England doctors so they know the situation."

Liverpool's season has begun to fall apart in the absence of their talismanic skipper, a 1-1 draw in Lyon on Wednesday leaving them on the brink of an early exit from the UEFA Champions League, and Benitez revealed he might have to gamble on his fitness against the Blues.

"We need to perform and when you have big players you sometimes have to take the risk," he added.

"Maybe he has to be on the bench and we can use him that way.

"If a player is not fit but is really good, maybe he can make a difference."

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