New Delhi: The Reds' talismanic skipper is still not 100 per cent fit, and his place in the starting line-up against Real Madrid is seriously in doubt.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has revealed that Steven Gerrard is still struggling with the hamstring strain that has kept him sidelined for the last three weeks or so.
Much talk around the Merseyside club had recently centred upon the fitness or otherwise of the skipper for this tie, with the Reds' obvious reliance on the dynamic playmaker being tempered by concerns about rushing Gerrard back too soon.
The player travelled to Spain for Wednesday night's Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid, and many supporters were hoping that that was a sign that Gerrard would be fit to face the Spanish giants.
However, Benitez earlier confirmed that he would wait until after the team's final training session at the Bernabeu before making a decision as to whether the England international was fit to play.
"We have one more session to go and then we will decide," said Benitez at a press conference in Spain.
"He didn't play against (Manchester) City because he wasn't fit, but he came through a light session yesterday. We'll have another light session tonight and then myself and the doctor will speak to him and decide. We are not trying to hide anything, it's just a question of if he is fit or not. He is mature enough to know if he is ready or not, so we can trust him."
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