Anfield Red

It’s a regular mash unit at Melwood prior to Wednesday’s do-or-die Champions League tie against Lyon. And whilst we’d all love to hear good news ahead such a match, it appears the reports coming from the club keep getting worse.

Isn’t the typical of the way this season has gone so far?

The word coming via the Guardian is that Steven Gerrard will not be making the trip to France for the match.

Steven Gerrard is out of Liverpool’s crucial Champions League tie against Lyon on Wednesday after failing to recover from a groin injury.

The England midfielder, who has played only 28 minutes of Liverpool’s last three games, has lost his race to be fit for a match the Merseyside club will almost certainly have to win if they are to stay in Europe’s premier club competition.

But wait, there’s more!

Whilst Fernando Torres will make the trip with team, Benitez confirmed that he’s monitoring the fitness of his striker after he was given pain-killing injections to play in the Manchester United and Fulham matches.

“We are trying to manage [him] because he was close to having an operation. We have to take Fernando to Lyon because we don’t have too many options,” said Benítez.

Close to having an operation? Blimey! That’s about the last thing I want to hear at the moment.

Are we to believe the club is pushing Torres when he may need rest? Who knows. All I do know is that his health is being put on the line in a match that we must win.

Agger, Aquilani, Johnson and Ngog will be back for the match, whilst Skrtel, Kelly and Riera are still out.

It’s going to once again come down to the play of a paper-thin Liverpool squad on Europe’s biggest stage. Can they do it once again with their backs to the wall? I guess we’ll find out on Wednesday.