Liverpool Team News: Rodgers Rules Duo Out, Trio To Return + Sturridge Update

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has given Liverpoolfc.com a team news and injury update ahead of this weekends clash with Queens Park Rangers.

The Reds manager has been speaking to the press today and top of the agenda was giving the latest on the situation regarding striker Daniel Sturridge.

Rodger confirmed media reports that the 25-year-old has travelled to Boston in the United States to see a specialist to help try and solve an on-going hip injury that’s plagued the player in recent weeks.

The Northern Irishman revealed that they’ve identified some ‘underlying issues’ that have caused his injury problems this season but they are working hard to get him back to full fitness on a consistent basis.

Rodgers told the clubs website:

“We have found some underlying issues that maybe relate to Dan’s issues and problems that he’s had this season, and the ongoing problems that he’s had.

“The staff and medical team here are liaising with some of the great medics in America and we’re just doing everything we possibly can to give Daniel the opportunity to remain fit and consistent and available.

“We’ll see how it goes between now and the end of the season, but it was something that we decided was going to be best for him to give him every chance to be consistently fit.

“Daniel is like every other player – he wants to play and wants to be available.

“It’s just unfortunate for him that this has been a season that on the back of how fantastic he was last season, he really wanted to build on that.

“If you track through his career, he has obviously had little issues along the way. But we knew when we brought him here that we wanted to give him every chance to be one of the top goalscorers in Europe, and we feel that potentially he has that.

“When he’s fit and demonstrates those qualities, there’s not too many better than Daniel.

“But we have to do everything we can to get him onto the training field and into the game, hence the reason for looking into this.”

Rodgers didn’t reveal any possible comeback date for Sturridge but it certainly seems increasingly likely that the striker may not play again this season. That would be a big blow but the main priority has to be to get him fully-fit ahead of next season.

Rodgers also confirmed that Mamadou Sakho is still unavailable as he continues to nurse a hamstring injury  while Mario Balotelli is also out after picking up a knock during Tuesday’s defeat at Hull.

However, there was some positive injury news as the Liverpool boss confirmed that Lucas Leiva is back in contention after recovering from a thigh injury while Steven Gerrard is also set to return to the starting line-up this weekend after being rested in midweek.

Rodgers admitted it’s increasingly difficult for the skipper to play Saturday and then again in midweek but insists the 34-year-old will ‘flying’ against QPR this weekend. He continued:

“The Saturday-Tuesday game was always going to be difficult, but certainly having had a good week’s preparation, he’ll be fit and flying for the weekend,”

“He’s just approaching every game and giving his maximum; his concentration has never waned, he has been really focused on helping the team. It will be exactly the same tomorrow.”

There was also good news on the fitness of Alberto Moreno as Rodgers revealed that the full-back is likely to be passed fit to return having missed the last two games through injury.

“We’ll see after today, but he [Moreno] should be OK.”

With Gerrard back, he’s likely to come back in alongside Jordan Henderson in midfield with Joe Allen dropping out. Leiva will be back in the squad but he may not be deemed fit enough to start just yet.

Moreno should return to the starting eleven at left-back with Glen Johnson making way after filling-in for the past two games.