Gerrard out of United clash

Liverpool have been dealt a major blow ahead of Saturday's showdown with Manchester United with Steven Gerrard ruling himself out as he has failed to recover from a groin operation. "The United game is too soon," Gerrard revealed. "I've spoken to the manager and told him I'd like to do a certain amount of training before I come back. I don't want to go into a big game only having had one session with the boys.

"There are times when you have got to forget about England and Liverpool and get yourself right. I had a good rest in the summer and felt great when I came back. Then, as soon as I went into training, the groin started niggling. One day it would be the right, then the left, and over a month's pre-season, it started to be a real worry.

"I strained both sides, which is a separate injury from the main groin problem I've got. The strains came about because I was training and playing differently to reduce the pain further up the pelvic bone."

Gerrard added: "The decision about surgery was taken after our game against Standard Liege. I had a meeting with the club doctor on the day of the game and said the discomfort was getting to the stage where I couldn't continue.

"I'd had to double, then treble, my dose of painkillers to train and play, and I was having to take them during games. You get to the stage where you can't grind it out any longer. I told the doctor, 'I can't find my level, I can't get to 100 per cent because I'm missing training sessions and I don't feel right in games. I don't feel I can go to the max'.

"I couldn't sprint flat out, couldn't pass more than 30 yards and couldn't shoot properly and, as much as you want to be out there for every game, it is important to be right."

It may come as a surprise to many that Gerrard has already pulled himself out of what is one of the club's biggest games of the season, but the player clearly considered his long-term fitness more important.

With Liverpool missing Gerrard and Torres and Manchester United welcoming Dimitar Berbatov for his debut it puts the Premier League champions as clear favourites for the game.