Gerrard to have Op tomorrow

[MrMichael]

Well yes, a protective trio would be useful for that too.

Counter attack relies on pace though and aside from Torres, we'll have none.

Babel wont start.

I don't think he will either. For me it would make sense to do what Bari suggests but to play Keane instead of Babel, with he and Kuyt supporting Torres from "wide" positions, I know its not Keane's natural role at all but it might be the best we can muster from the personel available. I certainly would prefer that midfield 3 thing to any 4-4-2 line up I can think of right now.

[Craig_H]

Our wide roles are seldom very wide though, so Torres probably wont get too isolated.

It sounds like a decent idea. I'm still not keen on Lucas starting though.

[FatTony]

Bad news this. We just don't function without him.

Just who will take the game by the scruff of the neck and attack with venom when we need it?

[flyboy]

its gonna be tough one against villa...without gerrard 442 would be almost suicidal against a pacy team like villa(agbonlahor and young namely).a draw would be pretty good result ...anything more than that is a bonus.4231 with masch lucas and alonso

[anfieldanfield]

Bad news this. We just don't function without him.

Just who will take the game by the scruff of the neck and attack with venom when we need it?

Gerrard didn't do this last night though.

[Elvoz]

Gerrard didn't do this last night though.

it shouldnt be down to him all the time though should it ?

[dww]

I'm quite looking forward to seeing us without Gerrard. For me quite a lot of the tactical difficulties we have had this season have come from accommodating Gerrard along with the other players we have (I think one of the major reasons for wanting Barry was to make the team hang together more easily around Gerrard). Villa was always going to be a tough game with or without Gerrard but for no logical reason at all I feel really positive about it.

[Paul12]

Half the team seems a bit off the pace at the moment. I have found myself wondering after last night whether Torres needs a bit of a breather. He doesn't seem to have much explosive energy at the moment. I suppose he didn't look quite right to me in the Euros either, so maybe it is my eyesight that needs testing rather than Nando that needs resting.

[Laz]

Surgeon issues Gerrard warning

Steven Gerrard could miss Liverpool’s crucial Premier League matches against Manchester United and Everton, according to a top surgeon.
The Reds captain will undergo a groin operation on Thursday that will keep him out of England’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez says Gerrard will be out for between 10-15 days.
But Nicola Maffulli of the British Orthopaedic Association has told Setanta Sports News that Gerrard could be out for up to six weeks - ruling him out of the United’s vist to Anfield on September 13 and the Merseyside derby two weeks later.
Maffulli told Setanta Sports News: “It all depends on what the diagnosis is.
“If he needs a tendon or a groin operation then 10-15 days off is a little optimistic and one would look for three to six weeks off.
"On the other hand, he is a very fit young man and he will recover quickly.
“His surgeon will have had many investigations and will have ascertained what needs to be done and it will be done there and then.
“The least possible time is 15 days, but a more realistic time is at least three to six weeks.”

http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/Ne...errard-injury/

Journalistic **** stirring at it's best. Make a statement then back it up by admitting that they have no idea what the problem is.

[Hammer]

The Echo is saying he is going to have 2nd operation tomorrow, but Rafa still hoping he will be fit for United game.

RAFA Benitez today revealed that Steven Gerrard is having to undergo a second operation on his troublesome groin injury but insisted he remains hopeful that his captain will be fit for the visit of Manchester United in two weeks’ time.

Gerrard has been struggling with the injury for the last fortnight and has played through the pain barrier for club and country during that time.

But after consulting with a specialist on Thursday it was decided that surgery was the only way forward and he underwent his first operation yesterday.

His specialist decided that a second operation was the best course of action if the problem was to be cleared up entirely, though, and Gerrard will now undergo surgery again tomorrow.

Benitez remains confident that the original prognosis of 10-15 days out of action still applies and believes Gerrard has a chance of facing the Premier League champions at Anfield on September 13.

He said: “They are two small operations and the decision was taken that it would be better to do them both separately rather than do them together.

“It is the same problem but it is very, very simple.

“I think that the recovery process will still be quick and I hope he will be available for the United game.

“It will be very close but we will see.”

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...0252-21636883/