Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard has given England an injury scare ahead of
the World Cup.
Gerrard limped off in the first half against Ipswich at Anfield, and manager
Gerard Houllier confirmed that it was a recurrence of the groin injury that has
dogged him all season.
But Houllier said: "I will give Sven-Goran Eriksson my advice if he wants it,
but they should be able to sort out Steven's problem in Dubai."
England are due to fly to Dubai on Monday and then on to South Korea on
Saturday for a friendly against the joint hosts.
England's first World Cup match is on June 2 against Sweden, little more than
three weeks away.
Gerrard's fitness has been a constant worry for the England boss with opinion
suggesting that the Liverpool star may not be able to stand the pressures of an
intense tournament with so many matches.
An injury now to one of his key players is the last thing Eriksson wants and
it is clear Gerrard will have constant treatment while in Dubai.
Houllier explained: "It's the same injury as before. The players are no
longer mine now, they are Sven's. It is up to him what he does.
"We were mindful of the players going to the World Cup. We told them to tell
us if they felt anything, any twinges, and we would get them straight off.
"That's what we did because there was no way that we would be taking any
risks."
Houllier even left Gerrard out at Spurs a fortnight ago, despite the player
insisting he was all right to play, rather than risk damage.
That defeat at Tottenham virtually cost Liverpool the title, their only defeat
in a 11-match run that saw them win the other 10, which underlines Houllier's
commitment to Eriksson's cause.
But Houllier was still delighted with second spot.
He said: "We made it! Some people said we have no silverware, but we got 80
points which is the same as Manchester United last year when they won the title.
"And it's two more than Arsenal when they last won the title. From our point
of view it's 11 more than we achieved last season. That's progress.
"I hope Ipswich come back quickly, they are a good team and play some fine
football. They had their chances against us so they could never be
under-estimated.
"To get to the Champions League quarter-finals was also an achievement. Last
season we won three trophies but getting to the group stages of the Champions
League is more important to me. The league table doesn't tell lies."
Ipswich manager George Burley said: "We have been relegated because we played
great stuff but missed chances. If you miss chances and concede goals as we did
here, you go down.
"I couldn't believe we were two down at the break after the way we played in
the first half. But they had world class finishing and a world class team.
"We showed we had quality and I believe we can come straight back. We have a
good squad of players and although we will have to listen to some offers and
some may want to stay in the Premiership, there will not be wholesale changes.
That's reality."
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