Although much of the talk in his pre-match press conference centered around the unauthorized interview that Raheem Sterling gave the BBC on Wednesday, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers did get to discuss other matters in the build-up to Saturday’s trip to the Emirates Stadium.
Following the loss to Manchester United, the Reds were left five points adrift of fourth place with only eight matches left to play. What was even more worrying was that both Steven Gerrard and Martin Skrtel would be serving three match bans in the wake and that Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana and Sterling had all picked up injuries. With a good amount of ground left to make up in the race to qualify for the Champions League, this wasn’t the news that any Kopite wanted to hear, but it sounds like things aren’t quite as bad as originally predicted.
“Daniel is back training with the team today. We’ll see the reaction of that tomorrow. We really want to make sure we perform and give ourselves a chance to get a positive result,” explained the Northern Irishman. “The team is coming along fine. The squad have been away, some of them coming back from internationals, and they’re fine. Jordan Henderson is back in and Lucas Leiva is back fit and available to come in from the start. The squad is good. Adam will hopefully be training with the team tomorrow and available for the weekend.”
Lallana, who came off at half-time against United, had aggravated a groin injury and immediately pulled out of the England squad for the Euro-2016 qualifier with Lithuania and the friendly with Italy. Sturridge, on the other hand, reported for duty and was promptly sent back to Melwood after a scan showed a tear in his hip flexor muscle. Both were expected to be sidelined for up to a month, but if they are fit to face Arsenal, or in the very least back in time for the midweek FA Cup replay with Blackburn, it’s just another really good reason to ignore media hyperbole. Like you really needed one…
