GERRARD OUT OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CLASH
Paul Eaton 17 October 2006
Steven Gerrard has been ruled out of tomorrow night's Champions League clash in Bordeaux with a minor hamstring injury.
The Liverpool squad will depart for France this morning without their skipper, who will stay behind to receive treatment at Melwood.
Speaking at Melwood today, manager Rafael Benitez explained: "Steven felt something in his hamstring after the Blackburn game and he is still feeling it.
"We have spoken with the doctor and decided it's not worth taking a risk with him and so he won't be involved in Bordeaux. If this was the last game of the season and he needed to play then he could, but at this moment we think it's too big a risk.
"I think it's just a matter of an extra couple of days and then he will be fine."
Benitez also revealed the Reds will be without Robbie Fowler and Daniel Agger in France as both players continue to recover from knocks.
Momo Sissoko and Dirk Kuyt will travel, but it's unlikely both will figure in the game.
"I would say Momo has an eighty per cent chance of playing and Kuyt just twenty per cent," added Benitez.
Lee Peltier has been added to the travelling party.
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N153782061017-0852.htm