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Liverpool Must Win Crunch Champions League Tie Against Debrecen Without Injured Fernando Torres
Rafa Benitez and his medical staff not willing to risk 'El Nino' in Europe…
Nov 23, 2009 12:48:16 PM
Liverpool travelled to Hungary today for this week's make-or-break Champions League tie with Debrecen without star striker Fernando Torres.
Reds manager Rafa Benitez confirmed that the Anfield coaching staff had decided that there was little point in the Spanish international making the trip as he is still undergoing treatment on a persistent groin injury.
"We thought it'd be two or three weeks and he's only 12 or 13 days into that, so there's no point in him going," Benitez told the Reds' official website.
"The next few days will decide if he is fit for Everton, but at this moment there are no guarantees."
Liverpool go to Hungary knowing that a victory for Fiorentina over Lyon in the group's other game would see them eliminated from this season's Champions League, no matter what the result against Debrecen.
But Benitez has urged his players to focus on the task at hand and ignore events in Florence on Tuesday night.
"A lot depends on Fiorentina and Lyon, but the main thing for us is to concentrate on our game and see what happens," he explained.
"We have to prepare our game because we don't have any influence over the other one. If we can do our job and win, we'll see.
"I think we can do it. We have some players coming back from injury, so hopefully with a bit of luck we can progress.
"It's football, so you never know. We'll see if we can keep going in the Champions League."
Ryan Babel did not travel either, as he picked up a foot injury in the 2-2 draw against Manchester City on Saturday.
Liverpool squad v Debrecen:
Pepe Reina, Diego Cavalieri, Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Fabio Aurelio, Emiliano Insua, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel, Andrea Dossena, Alberto Aquilani, Steven Gerrard, Yossi Benayoun, Javier Mascherano, Lucas Leiva, Jay Spearing, Dirk Kuyt, David Ngog.
Zack Wilson, Goal.com UK
Reds manager Rafa Benitez confirmed that the Anfield coaching staff had decided that there was little point in the Spanish international making the trip as he is still undergoing treatment on a persistent groin injury.
"We thought it'd be two or three weeks and he's only 12 or 13 days into that, so there's no point in him going," Benitez told the Reds' official website.
"The next few days will decide if he is fit for Everton, but at this moment there are no guarantees."
Liverpool go to Hungary knowing that a victory for Fiorentina over Lyon in the group's other game would see them eliminated from this season's Champions League, no matter what the result against Debrecen.
But Benitez has urged his players to focus on the task at hand and ignore events in Florence on Tuesday night.
"A lot depends on Fiorentina and Lyon, but the main thing for us is to concentrate on our game and see what happens," he explained.
"We have to prepare our game because we don't have any influence over the other one. If we can do our job and win, we'll see.
"I think we can do it. We have some players coming back from injury, so hopefully with a bit of luck we can progress.
"It's football, so you never know. We'll see if we can keep going in the Champions League."
Ryan Babel did not travel either, as he picked up a foot injury in the 2-2 draw against Manchester City on Saturday.
Liverpool squad v Debrecen:
Pepe Reina, Diego Cavalieri, Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Fabio Aurelio, Emiliano Insua, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel, Andrea Dossena, Alberto Aquilani, Steven Gerrard, Yossi Benayoun, Javier Mascherano, Lucas Leiva, Jay Spearing, Dirk Kuyt, David Ngog.
Zack Wilson, Goal.com UK
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