• Premier League

Gerrard ruled out for season

Liverpool's attempt to snatch a European place has been hit by the news that Steven Gerrard will not play again this season.

Gerrard, who has not featured since Liverpool's victory over Manchester United at the beginning of March, suffered a fresh groin injury in training last Friday, having undergone an operation on the area at the start of last month.

"We still don't know definitively what the problem is," said the Scot. "We will wait to get a precise answer from the people that he has to see but he won't be involved again this season.

"It's a blow if it's anybody, but it's more disappointing for the players than it is for us, obviously. Without being disrespectful for the players who are injured, the most important ones are the ones who are fit. At this particular moment in time, I'm as good a player as Steven."

The blow comes just days after Daniel Agger was sidelined until the summer, while Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly will miss a month with a hamstring injury.

Elsewhere, Andy Carroll is confident that Liverpool can sneak into the Premier League's final European qualification spot, although he acknowledges Tottenham need to slip up.

"Everyone has been lively in training,'' Carroll said. "All of the lads are still confident we can get into fifth and get there (Europe). We just need a slip up to go for us and to keep working hard and getting three points week in, week out.

"We're looking forward to the next game against Manchester City (on Monday) now and putting West Brom behind us.

"They've got great players all-round and they've got some England boys in there that I was away with last week. But if we stick together like we can do, we can go out there and beat them.''

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