Steven Gerrard fitness not big worry, says Rafa Benitez
RAFAEL BENITEZ has played down any fears over Steven Gerrard's fitness for the start of the season.
The Liverpool skipper returned home early from the club's training camp in Switzerland after suffering a groin problem.
Gerrard sat out the 2-1 win over FC Lucerne in Grenchen on Wednesday and was back on Merseyside for the 1-1 draw against Polish champions Wisla Krakow in Fribourg on Saturday
The midfielder has already been ruled out of tomorrow's friendly in Germany against Hertha Berlin but is likely to return for the trip to Villarreal the following week.
"Steven has a groin problem, it's not serious but he cannot train and he wouldn't be available for this game so we decided to send him back to Melwood for training," said Benitez.
"He should be okay in about a week. It's not serious but there's no sense to keep him here being unable to train or play."
Philipp Degen also missed Saturday's game due to a groin problem, but is expected to be available tomorrow night.
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Liverpool's other new full-back signing, Italian international Andrea Dossena, was cleared to make his first appearance for the club at the weekend.
The £6million arrival from Udinese played 62 minutes against Wisla, and Benitez said: "Dossena did okay but it was a difficult game for the full-backs. Wisla were good in wide areas with overlaps, but it was only his first game so I thought he was fine.
"It was important for him to play his first game. He is a good player and a good professional.
"He needs to understand our system and the way we play and he will get better with the more games he plays."
Andriy Voronin's second goal in as many pre-season games gave Liverpool the lead after six minutes at the weekend, only for Tomas Jirsak to equalise for Wisla six minutes later.
The game degenerated as a spectacle after the break with Liverpool eventually substituting all 11 starters.
But Benitez said: "I think we did really well in the first half. We had really good possession, the understanding between the players was good and we showed a good attacking mentality.
"We were playing against a team that was well organised and it was a step up in fitness for us.
"We had some chances but they did too so a draw was probably a fair result."
Of goalscorer Voronin, Benitez added: "He played well. He was good, and played well the other day, so we know his quality."
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