Benitez explains Liverpool’s missing men against Fulham

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has explained how he was without eleven first team players for Saturday’s Premier League clash at Fulham.

A weak Reds starting eleven and very youthful bench brought up faces of puzzlement from Liverpool fans as the side went down 3-1 at Craven Cottage.

Benitez explained that several injuries picked up last week as well as a drop of flu amongst the squad forced the following players out:

  • Steven Gerrard (groin)
  • Albert Riera (hamstring)
  • Martin Skrtel (muscle)
  • Daniel Agger (back)
  • Glen Johnson (calf)
  • Fabio Aurelio (calf)
  • Martin Kelly (ankle)
  • David Ngog (ankle)
  • Alberto Aquilani (flu)
  • Diego Cavalieri (flu)
  • Nabil El Zhar (knee ligaments)

    Benitez was also almost without midfielder Lucas Leiva, who was struggling with flu before the game, but passed a late fitness test.

    So far Gerrard, Riera, Skrtel and Kelly have been confirmed by the Reds boss as out of this Wednesday’s Champions League clash away to Lyon in France. Aquilani is a major doubt.