Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard is poised to return to training in
the coming days to further lift spirits on Merseyside.
The England midfielder had expected to be sidelined for at
least two weeks with a hamstring injury sustained in the FA Cup
third-round replay defeat at home to Reading nine days ago.
He missed last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Stoke and the 2-0
midweek victory over Tottenham but is set to return sooner than
expected.
Liverpool are not in action this weekend with it being the FA
Cup fourth round and the players were given a couple of days off to
recover after the confidence-boosting Spurs win but are due back at
Melwood on Saturday.
Gerrard thinks he can be ready for Tuesday's trip to Wolves
but Bolton at home the following weekend is a more likely prospect
as manager Rafael Benitez is unlikely to want to risk bringing back
his captain too early.
"I'm hoping to return in time for the Wolves game next week,
that's my target," Gerrard wrote in his programme notes for the
Spurs match.
"It's always a nightmare for me when I'm injured and I can't
help the team."
Former Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby accepts Gerrard's
absence - as well as that of a number of key players - has impacted
on the club's season but believes the rest of the squad are
learning to play without their major stars.
"When you lose Gerrard and Fernando Torres - two of the
world's best players - it's always going to be felt, not to mention
the likes of Glen Johnson, Yossi Benayoun, Albert Riera and Daniel
Agger," said the Dane.
"We have to be glad we've got a big squad and players have
been able to come in and do a job.
"They've shown we can cope and gain points while key men are
sidelined." Molby, who won two league titles and two FA Cups with
Liverpool, believes his former club's regular top-four experience
means they are in pole position to qualify for the Champions League
again.
Wednesday's win over Tottenham put them within a point of
fourth place, currently occupied by Harry Redknapp's side, and
Manchester City, and one ahead of Aston Villa.
"The players of Manchester City, Aston Villa and Spurs will
all be talking about whether they can hang in there and clinch
fourth," said Molby.
"At Liverpool it won't even be a talking issue because we
have done it on so many occasions before.
"Therefore, I feel the experience we have could have a
massive bearing."
Molby believes big-spending Manchester City represent
Liverpool's biggest threat in the second half of the season.
"I have a feeling they will bring in one or two new signings
before the close of the transfer window," he told liverpoolfc.tv.
"They also have players to come back such as Emmanuel
Adebayor, who is very important to them.
"But the 'big four' are going to be very difficult to break
up and I am confident Liverpool will finish in the Champions League
places."
