Key to Liverpool's woes has in recent weeks has been the injuries to star men Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. Both have been troubled with injuries in the groin area. Gerrard with an adductor injury and Torres with a hernia and while both problems are reportedly 'manageable' straight through a mixture of training and rest, one wonders about the long term viability of this as a clarification to the pairs injury problems.
It is clear to understand Benitez reluctance to sanction operations on two of his key men at such a time. Even if Liverpool had been unbeaten at this stage of the season, Benitez would be hard pressed to do without the pair. The fact that they are struggling and looking devoid of inspiration should both Torres and Gerrard be absent must be a huge worry and while this remains the case, Benitez will wrap his prime assets in cotton wool between games in the hope they can contribute.
Michael Owen stated in his autobiography how he coped with the litany of injuries he suffered. Playing on when hurt and in doing so, over-compensating for his injury by using someone else leg, or changing how he ran for the ball etc. All that happened was that Owen started to pick up other niggling injuries in the muscles, bones and ligaments that were being pushed to the limit over-compensating for the other injuries he had. I feel that for Benitez to do this, with his clubs two many assets, is asking for trouble.
The danger is that Torres, who, like Owen, relies on his explosive pace, is going to pick up other injuries, if he doesn't exacerbate his current injury in the meantime. The same can be said for Gerrard, whose box to box, all action, creative role will push his injury to the limit. I've no idea how long they would be out if injured in this way compared to surgery, but I'd guess it would be longer.
With a World Cup Finals coming up at the end of the season, I think Benitez is being a minuscule selfish to assume that both Gerrard and Torres will complete this season without surgical operation and still be in perfect shape to play for their countries at the World Cup finals. My fear, is that Benitez hopes that both Gerrard and Torres will make it straight through the season, so he can then send them for operations as soon as it is over, thus ruining their chances of taking part in the World Cup finals. No doubt die hard Liverpool fans who have no interest in Spain or England, would prefer this, but for me personally, I'd think Spain and England's chances would be greatly lessened, and the World Cup far less of an event, if whether were to miss out. I'd also venture that neither player would be too impressed at missing out either.
Benitez should bite the bullet and get their injuries sorted properly sooner rather than later. If his squad is not strong enough to cope without the pair, then that is down to one man and one man alone. Perhaps Benitez realises that Liverpool's shambolic failings when they are without their talismanic duo, are in fact a palpable demonstration of his failings as a manager, that of his inability to build a squad that can cope with their absence.
Why Liverpool Coach Benitez Should Bite the Bullet For the Good of Liverpool, Spain and England