Gerrard on course for Chelsea clash

April 13, 2009

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) – Steven Gerrard is on track to lead Liverpool in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg at Chelsea after the England midfielder returned to training on Monday.

Gerrard was rested by boss Rafael Benitez for Saturday’s 4-0 win over Blackburn at Anfield following scans that showed a recurrence of the Liverpool skipper’s groin injury.

But Benitez confirmed on Monday that Gerrard was responding to treatment and will travel to London as Liverpool try to overturn a 3-1 deficit from the first leg.

“Steven is getting better, he has been working with the physio and will train on Monday,” Benitez said.

“We will then discuss the situation with the doctors, but Steven will travel with the party to London and I will make a decision on Tuesday.”

Benitez knows Liverpool’s hopes of a famous win at Stamford Bridge would be boosted by Gerrard and he is ready to take a calculated risk.

He said: “Obviously we do not want him to break down again, he could then be out for 10 to 16 days. But the injury is not a massive one, it will be a calculated gamble to play him but one that I will consider.

“We are 3-1 down and we know that everything can change if we have Steven in the side and he plays well.”

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