Benayoun & Riera out for a month

[Ryan]

From The Times November 12, 2009

Rafael Benitez sees Liverpool’s woes intensify

Tony Barrett

Liverpool’s injury crisis has deepened with the confirmation that Albert Riera and Yossi Benayoun are likely to be out of action for up to a month.

The midfield duo limped off during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Birmingham City on Monday night having suffered hamstring injuries.

Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, admitted after the game that he feared the worst and scans have revealed that both players have suffered hamstring tears.

Riera had missed Liverpool’s previous five matches with a hamstring problem and his return to action against Birmingham had been a boost for Benítez. The fact that the Spain international has suffered a recurrence will come as a bitter blow, particularly with the in-form Benayoun receiving an almost identical injury.

In the next four weeks Liverpool face a testing fixture programme at home and abroad with Barclays Premier League matches against Manchester City, Everton and Blackburn Rovers, and Debrecen and Fiorentina in the Champions League. Benítez is now facing the possibility of going into those games without several of his senior stars.

Fernando Torres has begun a rehabilitation programme aimed at curing a longstanding groin problem and the Spain forward could be unavailable for up to two weeks. Daniel Agger is undergoing treatment on a back problem that forced him to withdraw from the Denmark squad. The club’s medical staff are assessing the extent of the calf strain that led to Glen Johnson pulling out of Fabio Capello’s England party for Saturday’s friendly against Brazil in Doha, Qatar.

Torres’s predicament will inevitably attract the most attention given his status as one of the world’s best attacking players. Benítez, though, is refusing to put any pressure on the club’s top goalscorer this season, stressing that Torres will return only when fully fit. “We will see how he reacts,†Benítez said. “We are not considering an operation yet.â€

Torres’s absence against Birmingham allowed Benítez to give David Ngog, the French forward, a starting place and the 20-year-old repaid his manager’s faith with an enterprising performance, albeit one that was overshadowed by his role in winning the controversial penalty that led to Liverpool’s equalising goal.

Ngog is hoping to feature more prominently in Benítez’s team and believes that working under the Spanish manager and alongside Torres can only improve him as a player.

“I am desperate to prove to the manager that I am ready to play in any situation,†Ngog said. “At training every day, I can feel some improvement in my game.It would be hard not to with so many great players around me.â€

 

[Dreambeliever]

Yossi is a massive lose with a current situation.

 

[Ryan]

He's been shit the last few weeks, but anyway given the paucity of depth in our skwad anyone would be a miss.

 

[DHSC]

Agger = Gimpy.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I remember in the early 90s, Shaggy and God both got their chances because of injuries and never looked back ...

Hopefully in the next year or two, we'll be saying the same things about Pacheco and other kids who should get their chances this year due to this injury plague.

 

[KopKing]

[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=37132.msg986687#msg986687 date=1258004600]
I remember in the early 90s, Shaggy and God both got their chances because of injuries and never looked back ...

Hopefully in the next year or two, we'll be saying the same things about Pacheco and other kids who should get their chances this year due to this injury plague.
[/quote]

Indeed. Often it's these freak injury crises, that allow them their opportunity in the first place.

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=37132.msg986687#msg986687 date=1258004600]
I remember in the early 90s, Shaggy and God both got their chances because of injuries and never looked back ...

Hopefully in the next year or two, we'll be saying the same things about Pacheco and other kids who should get their chances this year due to this injury plague.
[/quote]

I hope we aren't in the midst of a two year injury plague? Holy fuck, what a way to see the silver lining.

 

[Ossi]

The only good thing about this is that Aquilani gets his match fitness faster.

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=Ossi link=topic=37132.msg986820#msg986820 date=1258023048]
The only good thing about this is that Aquilani gets his match fitness faster.
[/quote]

Why?

 

[the_khl]

Step up Pacheco.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=37132.msg986826#msg986826 date=1258023427]
[quote author=Ossi link=topic=37132.msg986820#msg986820 date=1258023048]
The only good thing about this is that Aquilani gets his match fitness faster.
[/quote]

Why?
[/quote]

because of lack options rafa will be forced to play him sooner rather than later.

 

[Squiggles]

Aquilani's progress is determined by the fitness of Gerrard, Lucas & Mascherano, and of course Rafa himself.

I don't see how a few injuries to wide players affects anything.

 

[Hansern]

According to Rafa they could be back in 3 weeks time.

 

[Buddha]

[quote author=the_khl link=topic=37132.msg986831#msg986831 date=1258023635]
Step up Pacheco.


[/quote]

I'd love to see it, but surely he'd have got his chance ahead of Voronin v Fulham if Rafa had any intention of bringing him in.

 

[the_khl]

[quote author=Buddha link=topic=37132.msg987094#msg987094 date=1258037292]
[quote author=the_khl link=topic=37132.msg986831#msg986831 date=1258023635]
Step up Pacheco.


[/quote]

I'd love to see it, but surely he'd have got his chance ahead of Voronin v Fulham if Rafa had any intention of bringing him in.
[/quote]
I've got a feeling we won't see Voro-neen play for us again mate.

*fingers crossed*

 

[Judge Jules]

We're so short of options up front that I have a hunch we might not have seen the back of him yet. Hopefully the first half of the season will have convinced H and G to loosen the purse-strings, so we can get a decent striker in January and give VoROnin a one-way ticket out.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=the_khl link=topic=37132.msg987097#msg987097 date=1258037553]
[quote author=Buddha link=topic=37132.msg987094#msg987094 date=1258037292]
[quote author=the_khl link=topic=37132.msg986831#msg986831 date=1258023635]
Step up Pacheco.


[/quote]

I'd love to see it, but surely he'd have got his chance ahead of Voronin v Fulham if Rafa had any intention of bringing him in.
[/quote]
I've got a feeling we won't see Voro-neen play for us again mate.

*fingers crossed*
[/quote]


why? because he missed a sitter?

 

[Loch Ness Monster]

[quote author=the_khl link=topic=37132.msg987097#msg987097 date=1258037553]
[quote author=Buddha link=topic=37132.msg987094#msg987094 date=1258037292]
[quote author=the_khl link=topic=37132.msg986831#msg986831 date=1258023635]
Step up Pacheco.


[/quote]

I'd love to see it, but surely he'd have got his chance ahead of Voronin v Fulham if Rafa had any intention of bringing him in.
[/quote]
I've got a feeling we won't see Voro-neen play for us again mate.

*fingers crossed*
[/quote]


Oh FFS. I suppose he will be the first name on the team sheet for the next 10 games then.

 

[MaBigTip]

I have hope for both N'gog and Eccleston to step up in these injury plagued times. Eccleston has that raw pace and beaming confidence that makes me think he can make it as a young player

 

[Boozer]

[quote author=Assulin link=topic=37132.msg987269#msg987269 date=1258053287]
I have hope for both N'gog and Eccleston to step up in these injury plagued times. Eccleston has that raw pace and beaming confidence that makes me think he can make it as a young player
[/quote]

This is Eccleston's 1st season out of the Academy, I'd be amazed if he gets a shot at the 1st team. SSN are saying he's turned down a new contract.

 

[Hansern]

Acccording to the Mail, Aurelio has injured himself again and is out for a while. Calf injury.

 

[MaBigTip]

[quote author=Hansern link=topic=37132.msg987287#msg987287 date=1258056442]
Acccording to the Mail, Aurelio has injured himself again and is out for a while. Calf injury.
[/quote]

Durn, when we need to rest Insua I'd rather try Mavinga (if we can get it in a easier game) then dossena

 

[keniget]

[quote author=Hansern link=topic=37132.msg987287#msg987287 date=1258056442]
Acccording to the Mail, Aurelio has injured himself again and is out for a while. Calf injury.
[/quote]

So much for his Brazil call up then.

I do like Aurelio but we need a replacement next summer because his injury record is a joke and he simply cannot be relied upon over the course of a season.

 

[Loch Ness Monster]

[quote author=Hansern link=topic=37132.msg987287#msg987287 date=1258056442]
Acccording to the Mail, Aurelio has injured himself again and is out for a while. Calf injury.
[/quote]


Haha, if true this is becoming a fucking joke. Ridiculous.

 

[Squiggles]

I'd be torn between who to keep at LB

2 have to go & 1 simply must come in.

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=Loch Ness Monster link=topic=37132.msg987330#msg987330 date=1258059123]
Haha, if true this is becoming a fucking joke. Ridiculous.
[/quote]

... Igor reveals his massive flaccid cock, and then as SCM is defecating into the Manager's mouth, the team spontaneously breaks their own legs, but Lucas, incapable of getting fully involved in the game, only manages to give himself an indian burn, so decides to walk around licking each blade of glass clean of blood. Yea, and Aurelio decides for good measure to injure himself while injured.

What do you call the team?

The Aristocrats...

 

[Judge Jules]

Egad. Bad trip?

 

[dee]

[quote author=Loch Ness Monster link=topic=37132.msg987330#msg987330 date=1258059123]
[quote author=Hansern link=topic=37132.msg987287#msg987287 date=1258056442]
Acccording to the Mail, Aurelio has injured himself again and is out for a while. Calf injury.
[/quote]

Haha, if true this is becoming a fucking joke. Ridiculous.
[/quote]

Y Benayoun Hamstring Injury 2nd Dec 09
F Aurelio Calf/Shin Injury 18th Nov 09
A Riera Hamstring Injury no return date
G Johnson Calf Muscle Strain no return date
S Gerrard Groin Strain no return date

Torres not listed as injured??

 

[Glock21]

More quality stuff from the genius, he's decided Torres doesn't need an operation and that now, when the damage is done, he's going to give him a rest. Fucking hell!.

If he had been left with the physio's for 2 to 3 weeks to begin with and not rushed back to save Rafael's job he'd be fit and healthy now.

We're getting a worrying amount of muscular injuries this season. The last time we had this many in such a short period of time was under Souness.


Below are an articled picked from the Times.

Will this period of rest ensure he avoids the need for an operation?

The problem with groin operations is that they cause scar tissue, which can lead to long-term problems. It is not about time because the recovery period after surgery could be shorter than this period of rest. Some surgeons can have players back in 12 days after such a procedure. The club are just being sensible and avoiding the quickest possible fix.

 

[Hansern]

I'm sure the specialists in Spain and England haven't got a clue, and therefor decided that 3 weeks rest could do the trick.....

It's a conspiracy I tell thee, CONSPIRACY!!