Rafa has cleared the path for Gerrard’s absence in the Liverpool team to face Fulham by revealing that the midfielder has picked up a neck injury in training.

In a rather bizarre statement on the club’s official site, Rafa claims “He has a neck problem. Yesterday in training he scored three or four goals with his head so at the end he had a problem”. Right you are Rafa.

Gerrard has reportedly been left behind as the squad travel to London for the game and it seems likely that he’ll be joined by several notable names as Benitez prepares for the Champions League clash with Chelsea in midweek.

Fantasy managers won’t be the only ones rather peeved by this news. Gary Megson has apparently called Rafa and pleaded with him to play his strongest side against relegation rivals Fulham, but that looks highly unlikely. Indeed Benitez even got his retaliation in early when it came to Megson.

“What did Bolton do in the UEFA Cup with their team selection?. They left players out”, he remarked. “If you ask me ‘Will I pick a strong team?’ Then yes, I will pick a strong team as we did against Arsenal for example”

So that would be the side against Arsenal that included 8-changes, including a debut for 20-year-old Damien Plessis. With that in mind, Torres is almost certain to join Gerrard on the sidelines, Arbeloa has a thigh strain and will also be rested, while Babel, Kuyt, Carragher and Mascherano could also be left out. Crouch, Voronin, Benayoun, Hyypia, Finnan and a fit-again Pennant all seem likely to benefit.