Rafa rues player loss

Last updated : 06 February 2008 By Al Campbell
Liverpool have only seven fit members of the first team squad training at Melwood this week because of international friendlies taking place tomorrow. It's far from ideal preperation for Sunday's game against Chelsea.

"You can't see the players and you can't train them and yet we have a very important game coming up against Chelsea in the Premier League," said Rafa Benitez.

"I do not have a problem with the international managers because they have to practice with the players and prepare for tournaments and qualifying matches.

"But for club managers to lose their players for one whole week is a very bad situation, particularly ahead of such an important game.

"It is worse for the bigger clubs because they have more international players and when you lose so many it makes things difficult."