Gerrard set to return for Liverpool
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is set to return for Liverpool’s match against Fulham in the Premier League. The midfielder has been out of action for almost a month, after suffering a hamstring injury during an international encounter between England and
France; a match France won 2-1.
The news will come as quite a relief for manager Roy Hodgson, who already has defender Jamie Carragher on the side lines for at least a couple of months. Goalkeeper Jose Reina has expressed his delight on Gerrard’s return, saying,
“It'd be a massive lift to have him back. He's a key player for us and when he's in the team, it's much easier for us. The confidence and the commitment he gives to this club. You have to drag yourself to the level of his passion."
It was initially hoped that Gerrard will be fit in time for the away game against Newcastle, but he failed to recover. Liverpool went on to lose the match 3-1 to put Hodgson under fire again.
The Liverpool manager, however, has continually insisted that his future at the club is secure. He recently stated,
“I don't have any fears or concerns. The owners have made it very clear. They said that they are in it for the long-term and want to be patient. They realize it will take time and that we can't turn things around overnight, and they also realize the team
I'm working with is not the team I put together. So I have no concerns at all.”
Hodgson cannot afford anything less than a win against his former club, at Anfield. Fulham have had a horrendous season and currently lie 16th on the Premier League table with only 16 points. They are outside the relegation zone only due to a
better goal difference than Wigan.
Liverpool have also had a league season to forget so far. The Reds are placed 9th on the table, with only 6 wins in 17 league games. The inclusion of Gerrard is bound to have an influence on the Liverpool side; but their problems in defense might
come to haunt them yet again, against the struggling Fulham.
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