The England Captain, who brushed off calls to be benched by playing a vital role in all four goals on the weekend, picked up a knock to the hip in the closing stages of Liverpool’s 2-0 loss to Arsenal just over a week ago and is said to have “felt it” against the Cottagers as well. The 33-year old made way for Joe Allen with just over a half-hour left to play as a pre-caution, but it would seem that token gesture from Brendan Rodgers wasn’t enough and Gerrard will require a fitness test – shame, really.
“Steven was a wee bit stiff around his hip and he needs to be assessed,” said the Reds boss who added striker Daniel Sturridge to his list of players that might not play for England this week. “They are going to have a look at Daniel too,” continued Rodgers. “He has some soreness and actually hurt his foot against Fulham.” Sturridge, who’s currently joint leading scorer in the Premier League along with strike partner Luis Suarez and Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, was unlucky not to add to his tally at the weekend with Fulham ‘keeper Maarten Stekelenburg pulling together a string of fine saves to keep the score borderline acceptable.
With Suarez playing a pair of important World Cup playoff matches first in the Middle East and then in Uruguay next Wednesday, fitness and jet lag becomes a real concern and keeping Sturridge fresh and fit could be the difference comes next weekend in the derby. “I just have to see how he is with the medical guys” conceded Rodgers and if we had it our way, the boss would be telling Roy Hodgson that Danny and Stevie can’t come out to play.
