England's loss will be Reds' gain

England’s loss will most definitely be Liverpool’s gain with the likelihood that all three of their wounded England stars will be back for the start of the new Premiership campaign in August.

Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and now Danny Murphy have been ruled out of World Cup action in a bitterly disappointing run of misfortune to hit Sven-Goran Eriksson.

But all three are expected to be fit for the new campaign, with Murphy flying home from the Far East after suffering a David Beckham-style foot injury which will keep him in plaster for three weeks.

But England boss Eriksson believes Murphy will be ready for Liverpool’s forthcoming campaign, while Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson agrees.

Thompson said: ‘‘We are fortunate that our doctor Mark Waller, who is also the England Under-21 doctor, is around and he will be well looked after when he returns.

‘‘Now it is for us to take care of him and get him ready for pre-season training.’’

Liverpool have already seen Carragher and Gerrard travel to the USA for operations.

Carragher needed surgery on a kneecap and at first it was believed he would be out for four months, having informed Eriksson in the week the original squad was announced, that he was struggling with a long standing injury problem.

But now Carragher says: ‘‘I think four months is the worst it could be. I haven’t given up hope of being fit for the start of the season and I think I can make it.

‘‘I’ll be looking after myself over the summer and we’ll see what happens.’’

Gerrard was forced out of Eriksson’s squad after suffering a recurrance of a groin injury on the last day of the season, which also required surgery in the States.

But the Liverpool midfielder is back now and working on his rehabilitation and firmly expects to be fit for the start of the campaign with his long-standing groin problem solved for good.

Eriksson has revealed that he was prepared to take a risk on Gerrard just like he is doing with Beckham, but dropped the idea when he was informed of how serious Gerrard’s problem was and the need for immediate medical action.

Now Murphy has joined his club-mates on the injured list and Thompson said: ‘‘I’m extremely disappointed for the lad.

‘‘His chances of playing in the World Cup were in the balance initially because he was on stand-by.

‘‘Then Steven Gerrard got injured and pulled out, with Danny taking his place. But for this to happen now for Danny is very disappointing for the lad.’’