Liverpool fear Steven Gerrard may require an operation to solve his troublesome groin injury.
Gerrard will be absent for Liverpool again on Saturday as he struggles to recover from the problem he suffered in England's World Cup qualifying defeat by Ukraine almost three weeks ago.
The 29-year-old has managed only 25 minutes of action since then — in last week's Champions League loss to Lyon at Anfield, when he aggravated the injury and limped off.
Liverpool are perplexed by Gerrard's slow recovery. They are reluctant to opt for surgery but it may be an option if th! e injury fails to respond to treatment.
Manager Rafa Benitez had hoped his captain would be back for Saturday's Premier League trip to Fulham, but has accepted defeat.
Top scorer Fernando Torres, who has been affected by a similar injury, is expected to start at Craven Cottage, though, and Benitez said: 'Both have to keep going. Gerrard is still working with the physio so we will see. Hopefully, Torres will be OK, but for Gerrard maybe it is more difficult.'
Gerrard will be absent for Liverpool again on Saturday as he struggles to recover from the problem he suffered in England's World Cup qualifying defeat by Ukraine almost three weeks ago.
The 29-year-old has managed only 25 minutes of action since then — in last week's Champions League loss to Lyon at Anfield, when he aggravated the injury and limped off.
Liverpool are perplexed by Gerrard's slow recovery. They are reluctant to opt for surgery but it may be an option if th! e injury fails to respond to treatment.
Manager Rafa Benitez had hoped his captain would be back for Saturday's Premier League trip to Fulham, but has accepted defeat.
Top scorer Fernando Torres, who has been affected by a similar injury, is expected to start at Craven Cottage, though, and Benitez said: 'Both have to keep going. Gerrard is still working with the physio so we will see. Hopefully, Torres will be OK, but for Gerrard maybe it is more difficult.'
