Premier League - Gerrard out of Fulham game
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has been ruled out of Saturday's Premier League clash with Fulham.
The midfielder missed England's friendly against Germany in midweek after picking up a groin injury during last weekend's win over Bolton.
Having completed 90 minutes at the Reebok Stadium last Saturday, his subsequent withdrawal from Fabio Capello's squad had raised questions as to the authenticity of his injury.
Despite Liverpool's medical staff having ruled out Gerrard for the friendly international in Berlin, Capello ordered him to report for duty at England's Hertfordshire base.
But once there, national team doctors confirmed Gerrard's injury was genuine and sent him back to Merseyside to recuperate.
According to reports, the 28-year-old has just a 50-50 chance of recovering in time to face Marseille in the Champions League next week, further vindicating his absence from the England game.
Benitez had claimed earlier that Gerrard "would be out for between seven and 10 days".