SOCCER: Sporting Braga v Liverpool:LIVERPOOL ARE waiting to discover if Steven Gerrard needs surgery on a groin injury that could rule him out of England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales.
Gerrard did not travel with the squad for the Europa League last-16 first leg against Braga tonight, having suffered from the groin problem since the victory over Chelsea on February 6th. The 30-year-old missed England’s friendly win in Denmark last month and three Liverpool games as a consequence, and despite playing recently against West Ham United and Manchester United he has not fully recovered.
The Liverpool captain has had medical tests this week and a decision on the best course of treatment is expected tomorrow.
Liverpool will equal a club record of 14 games unbeaten in Europe if they do not lose at Estadio Municipal, a strange, two-sided stadium inside a quarry.
But a Europa League campaign against mediocre opposition has not stirred the senses. Four of Liverpool’s last seven matches in the competition have ended 0-0 and they have scored once in four away games. Up front, with Luis Suarez ineligible and Andy Carroll expected to be given more time than his 16-minute appearance against Manchester United but not to start, David Ngog is likely to be given a chance.
Raul Meireles will make his first club appearance on Portuguese soil since moving from Porto.
Braga beat Celtic to reach this season’s Champions League group stage. There, the club whose nickname is “The Arsenalists”, due to the resemblance of their kit to that worn by the English side, lost 6-0 to Arsene Wenger’s team at the Emirates but won 2-0 at home.
GuardianService
