Benitez talks injuries: Carragher, Skrtel and Gerrard. Will they be fit to face Spurs?

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is hopeful Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel and Steven Gerrard will all be fit for the Reds Premiership clash against Spurs on Sunday. Giving his pre-match press conference the Reds boss said:

"Skrtel trained yesterday and hopefully he'll be fit. Carragher has been working with the physios today and we think he'll be available. Agger is also working with the physios but it will be more difficult for him," said Benitez on the official site.

Benitez also spoke about Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard Gerrard who withdrew from England's friendly international with Holland with a tight groin:

"I am really pleased because Mr Capello wanted to protect players. Because Gerrard had a problem they did a scan and pulled him out of the squad. We don't know if he'll be fit. He was working with the physios yesterday and today.

"If the game would have been on Saturday it would be difficult but because it's on Sunday he could have a chance."

Skrtel’s return gives Rafa injury boost

Martin Skrtel looks set to join Jamie Carragher in the centre of defence in this Sunday’s Premier league opener against Spurs, after making a successful comeback from injury earlier today.

The Slovakian defender took part in a behind closed doors friendly against Oldham at the Academy, in a 2-0 win that saw Lucas and Daniel Ayala hit the back of the net.

Skrtel has been out of action since picking up a hamstring injury against Thailand last month, and his return to action will come as a massive boost to the Reds ahead of the season opener.

New signing Alberto Aquilani who will be officially paraded as a Liverpool player later this week watched the friendly sitting alongside manager Rafael Benitez.

Benitez eases injury crisis fears

Most of today's papers are running with the story that Liverpool are in the middle of a defence crisis. It's true that Agger and Skrtel are recovering from injury and Jamie Carragher was taken off during the Atletico Madrid match on Saturday, however the Reds manager has played down the scare tactics from the press. Carragher he explains, was taken off as a precautionary measure and Skrtel and Agger are making quick recoveries. Incredibly most papers are quoting Rafa's comments below under the Rafa faces 'Injury Crisis' headline.

Benitez said: "Jamie's injury is not serious, just a twisted ankle. But with our injury problems which include Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel, we felt we needed to take him off as a precaution, just in case," reports the Telegraph.

"We will keep an eye on him for two or three days to see how he reacts, but I feel he will be OK. Hopefully, Agger or Skrtel will be fit too."

"Agger has a back problem, and that should be OK in a couple of days. Skrtel is nearly over his hamstring injury, he's nearly there.”

"He is training again and I believe that at the end of this week both of them will be fit to play.”

Fernando Torres was also taken off as a precautionary measure on Saturday but Benitez believes it is not serious:

"I do not believe that the injury to Fernando Torres is anything serious, he had an ankle problem but it was a minor one and he also came off as a precaution."

The newspapers may interpret this quote as: Benitez injury HELL!!: 'Torres's legs fall off!'

Skrtel out for three weeks

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel faces a race to be fit for the start of the new season after being ruled out for three weeks, reports Sky Sports.

Skrtel picked up a hamstring strain during Wednesday's friendly with Thailand and he has flown back to England for treatment on the injury. Scans have shown Skrtel has suffered a strain which will keep him on the sidelines for three weeks.

Skrtel now races to be ready for the Liverpool’s first game of the new Premiership season at Tottenham on 16th August.

Team mate Nabil El Zhar is also set to miss the start of the new campaign after he suffered a knee injury against Thailand. The winger has suffered medial ligament damage to his knee and is expected to be out for a month.


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Skrtel and El Zhar latest injury news

Martin Skrtel and Nabil El Zhar who both limped off in last night's friendly with Thailand, will find out the extent of their injuries “at the end of the week,” reports the official web site. Both players ere withdrawn from the game just minutes after their introduction.

Skrtel has a hamstring injury and El Zhar has damaged medial ligaments in his knee. Both players will return to the UK before the rest of the squad to undergo scans on their respective injuries.