Gerrard might miss First Leg with Chelsea, Avram ‘good’ says Rafa

By: Rob | April 20th, 2008

Steven Gerrard comes off After he sat out against Fulham yesterday, Rafa Benitez has revealed that talismatic captain Steven Gerrard may not play in the crucial first leg (Anfield) in this weeks Champions League matches. The Liverpool manager also took time to praise Avram Grant (now THATS something he wouldn’t have done with Jose) Meanwhile Chelsea midfielder Micheal Ballack thinks that the fact Chelsea are away first leg will give his side a cruical advantage.

There’s absolutely no doubt, whatever my feelings on Steven Gerrard (regular readers might be aware I don’t rate him as much as many) thats Liverpool run through the Champions League this season has been largely his doing (with a bit of luck from the ref). He can’t seem to do it week in week out in the league, but in the Champions League he inspires the ranks to become the better side (he was however, by his own admission, awful in the QF second leg). The combination of him and Torres seems to have hit it off right away, and Gerrard is vital if Liverpool want to win this tournament (again).

He sat out of Liverpools win at Fulham at the weekend, but unlike Ryan Babel and Fernando Torres, he wasn’t being rested he hurt his neck. Rafa has said its too early to say if he’ll make it against Chelsea, which could turn to tie. Liverpool’s tactic in Europe has been to just do enough in the away leg and then turn it on at Anfield. Without Gerrard in the first leg, it may be advantage Chelsea.

Meanwhile, the Liverpool manager has taken time to praise Chelsea manager Avram Grant. Anyone who remembers the previous times Liverpool and Chelsea met in the Champions League will remember that the build up consisted almost entirely of Jose Mourinho and Rafa calling each other names. It seems quite deliberate that Rafa has come out and praised Jose’s sucsessor. The recent rivallry between the two clubs (history vs modern sucsess basically) was lit by the two arguing all the time, it almost seems a shame if Rafa and Avram get on.

Over on the otherside of the game, Micheal Ballack has noticed Liverpool’s get a draw first leg, win at Anfield tactics, and has said the fact that the first leg is at Anfield will prove pivotal. He is also still hanuted by his Champions League loss in the final six years ago.

“I think about it every year” Ballack says on the loss. Maybe this season he can rectify it. Jose thinks they will.