LIVERPOOL'S RESENTMENT at England's treatment of Steven Gerrard was confirmed yesterday when Rafael Benitez insisted the English FA should apologise for doubting the club's word on the injured midfielder.

Gerrard misses Fulham's visit to Anfield this afternoon with the muscle tear he sustained at Bolton last weekend and which developed into an international incident when he subsequently withdrew from the England squad to face Germany in Berlin.

Despite undergoing a scan after the Bolton game, and Liverpool informing the English FA on Saturday evening that Gerrard would be unavailable to Fabio Capello, the midfielder was summoned to the England base on Sunday for a scan that confirmed the diagnosis of the Liverpool club doctor, Mark Waller. Waller also happens to work for the FA in his role as the England under-21 team's doctor.

Gerrard missed a day's treatment as a result of the eight-hour, 400-mile round trip, and while Benitez insists he has no personal issue with Capello there is disquiet at Liverpool over the FA's instant demand to assess the midfielder and to question Waller's opinion.

Not every England player who pulled out of the Germany squad was required to visit the FA's medical staff but Gerrard, who underwent a groin operation when England faced Andorra and Croatia in September and made a substitute appearance against Manchester United in Liverpool's next fixture, was called along with Chelsea's Frank Lampard.

"Stevie is not fit to play against Fulham," said Benitez. "That means someone at the FA has made a massive mistake. It would be nice if someone rang to apologise, but I'm not expecting a call. He may have a chance to play in the Champions League (against Marseille) next week. He's working hard with the physios and I have the feeling he'll be okay for Wednesday."

Benitez, who spoke to Capello about Gerrard on the Saturday evening, added: "There is no problem between me and Fabio Capello, I am not unhappy with him. But the best news for me now is that there are no internationals until March."

The Liverpool manager also insisted that negotiations on his new contract are continuing between his advisers and the club's American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, despite concerns that his preferred deadline of early December for a new deal may not be met. Benitez said: "The owners are still in contact with my agent. They have had a contact and are still in contact. We are waiting for more news."

Liverpool, meanwhile, are to withdraw their application to trademark the iconic image of the Liver bird following protests from Liverpool city council.

Guardian Service