[lfc-news] Benitez leaves 'tired' Gerrard out of plans - Post

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Liverpool Daily Post, 1 Dec 2004
Benitez leaves 'tired' Gerrard out of plans
By Ian Doyle, Daily Post Staff

STEVEN GERRARD will be absent as Liverpool attempt to move a step nearer a
third Carling Cup final appearance in four years this evening.

Rafael Benitez's side travelled to Tottenham Hotspur for their
quarter-final tie without their talismanic skipper, who will instead remain
at Melwood for extra training as he strives for full fitness following his
recovery from two months sidelined with a broken metatarsal.

With Liverpool approaching an important period of four games in 10 days -
which includes their decisive Champions League game with Olympiakos and
Premiership encounters at Aston Villa and Everton and at home to Portsmouth
- Benitez has decided not to overburden Gerrard so soon after his return.

"There are no problems with his injury but it is more about whether he
becomes tired," said the Liverpool manager. "Another game would have been
good for him as we need him to be fit and at a better level for the games
against Aston Villa and Olympiakos.

"But I have to get the right balance between how much he trains and how
much he plays because we have a lot of important games coming up and we
need him to be fit.

"All the players want to play and Steven always wants to play but we must
do what is the best for him and what is the best for the team, not just for
this game but the whole season."

Since returning on November 20, Gerrard made a second-half substitute
appearance at Middlesbrough and played 90 minutes at Monaco before
producing a man-of-the-match display against Arsenal on Sunday.

"It has not surprised me how well he has done since returning," added
Benitez. "He has been training very well and he just needed to get a few
games now.

"Steven played very well against Arsenal and we used Alonso and Hamann
working hard behind him. Steven worked very hard between the lines of
attack and midfield while Neil Mellor kept the centre-backs of Arsenal busy."

While Gerrard misses out, another player returning from injury, Antonio
Nunez, is expected to be handed a start this evening.

The Spaniard's appearance from the bench against Arsenal at the weekend was
his first since injuring his knee during his first training session
following his move from Real Madrid in August.

"Nunez has been out for three to four months, so he needs time," said
Benitez. "He can give us more possibilities, but he is not in the best
physical condition at the moment.

"He may not be a galactico but he gives us another option.

"We did not have a true winger in the squad but now we can choose him.

"He needs to play now."

Benitez is otherwise expected to largely keep faith in the mixture of
youngsters and fringe players who have defeated Millwall and Middlesbrough
in previous rounds as they aim to emulate the Liverpool teams of 2001 and
2003 who went on to lift the trophy at Cardiff.


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