Benitez hails Gerrard’s ‘massive achievement’

RAFAEL BENITEZ yesterday hailed Steven Gerrard’s contribution to Liverpool’s past and insists his captain can play another 200 games at the top level for the Anfield club.

Gerrard will become only the 13th Liverpool player to reach the 500 games tally for the club when he leads the team at Blackburn today.

At Ewood Park he will once again be without his front-line colleague Fernando Torres, who will still not be risked as he recovers from a groin problem despite having taken part in three first-team training sessions this week. So again it is predominantly down to Gerrard to continue the rescue act to salvage Liverpool’s erratic season and Benitez insists the England man can do it.