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| Steven Gerrard © Action Images |
Liverpool set out for a must-win Champions League clash with Debrecen without injured striker Fernando Torres but with captain Steven Gerrard insisting they can still turn their season around.
A run of one win in ten matches has left the Reds floundering in
the Premier League and on the brink of going out of the Champions
League.
To survive among Europe's elite, Rafael Benitez's side must beat
Hungarian champions Debrecen in Budapest on Tuesday and hope that
Fiorentina fail to beat Lyon in Italy.
That looks a long shot but Gerrard insists that he and his squad
can still salvage something from a season that started with high
hopes of a sustained challenge for Liverpool's first league title
since 1990.
"The mood in the camp is really good, although we know our
position in the table isn't good enough," Gerrard said.
"But we have faith in our ability. We know we can put things
right."
He added: "It's been a frustrating few weeks because as soon as
I was fit we had the international break. I've been desperate to
play and can't wait to really get going properly again."
Gerrard started his first game in a month on Saturday when
Liverpool drew 2-2 at home to Manchester City and he is expected to
start again in the Hungarian capital, possibly with the help of a
pain-killing injection.
Torres has been ruled out again by Benitez who admits the
striker, who is battling a groin injury, is also doubtful for
Sunday's Merseyside derby at Everton.
"We thought it would be two or three weeks and he's only 12 or
13 days into that so there's no point in him going," Benitez told
Liverpool's website, www.liverpoolfc.tv.
"The next few days will decide if he is fit for Everton, but at
this moment there are no guarantees."
Benitez admitted it was frustrating for Liverpool to have lost
control of their own destiny. "A lot depends on Fiorentina and
Lyon, but the main thing for us is to concentrate on our game and
see what happens," the Spaniard said.
"We have to prepare our game because we don't have any influence
over the other one. If we can do our job and win, we'll see.
"I think we can do it. We have some players coming back from
injury, so hopefully with a bit of luck we can progress.
"It's football, so you never know. We'll see if we can keep
going in the Champions League."
Dutch forward Ryan Babel, who injured his ankle in Saturday's
2-2 draw with Manchester City, and Spanish winger Albert Riera
(hamstring) were both left out of the 18-man Liverpool squad that
flew to Budapest, but England defender Glen Johnson travelled after
missing the City match with a calf problem.
Danish defender Daniel Agger was also cleared to play after
recovering from a head injury that forced him out of the City
match.
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