Real Madrid star Kaka today spoke of his admiration for Steven Gerrard – claiming the Liverpool captain has the 'heart of a lion.'
The duo have gone head-to-head in two Champions League finals in recent years, and Kaka admits that the Reds' No.8 has left a lasting impression.

"England have always had individually strong players and I am a huge fan of Stevie Gerrard," said the Brazil midfielder.

"He has the heart of a lion and is the icon of the modern footballer with his ability to attack and defend so well.

RAFA'S INJURY UPDATE FROM MELWOOD - 12 November 2009
Rafael Benitez has today brought us up to date with the very latest news from the treatment room at Melwood.
With some players sustaining new injuries during Monday night's draw with Birmingham and with others on the road to recovery after earlier setbacks, the medical staff are among the busiest people at the club right now as they look to provide the boss with as many players as possible for our next game against Manchester City in ten days time.

Here's what Rafa told Liverpoolfc.tv earlier today.

Ahead of tonight's Anfield clash with Birmingham City Rafael Benitez and Steven Gerrard have given their thoughts to the official matchday programme. Read it now online. After the disappointment of the game at Fulham, I was very pleased with the reaction of the players in Lyon on Wednesday. Of course it was frustrating to concede a goal so late on because I thought we deserved to win the game as the team showed their character, created chances and played well.

Fernando Torres could play on Monday despite Rafael Benitez fearing both he and Steven Gerrard may require surgery.

Torres will test his groin injury with light training over the weekend. Gerrard is also doubtful but Martin Skrtel returns after a virus.

Birmingham are without Barry Ferguson (banned) while Garry O'Connor (groin) and Keith Fahey (knee) are both doubts.

On-loan keeper Joe Hart could replace Maik Taylor after being ineligible to face parent club Manchester City.

MATCH PREVIEW

Rafa reckons 'El Nino' could be spoken of in same breath as 'King Kenny'
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has hailed Fernando Torres as a player who could go on to become a Kop legend, with the striker fast approaching 50 Premier League goals for the Reds.

'El Nino' is two strikes shy of scoring a half-century for the Anfield outfit, and is on the verge of doing so quicker than any other player in the club's rich history.

Journalist: First of all Rafa could you bring us up to date with Fernando Torres' fitness?

Fernando has been to see a specialist in Spain and they were talking with our medical staff, so the situation now with him is he has to carry on and work with the physios and see how he feels. If everything is okay then maybe he can be available against Birmingham. I was talking with the technical director of the Spanish team and the fitness coach and I explained to them the situation. They know Fernando needs to work with the physios for a while and that is the situation.

Rafa Benitez is confident Fernando Torres can avoid the need for an operation as the boss prepares to include the striker in his plans for Wednesday's crunch clash with Lyon.
The Spain international is being eased back into action as he continues to recover from a groin injury - and Benitez insists he will continue to play it safe with the fitness of the Reds' No.9.

"We know Fernando has a problem, and we have to manage it," the boss told his pre-match press conference in France.

Kick-off: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 - 20:45 CET
Stade Gerland, Lyon

Two weekends ago, Liverpool thought they had reached the turning point of what has been a frustrating campaign on all fronts. A 2-0 win over Manchester United seemed to silence the doubters and catapult them back into Premier League contention.

Now, though, after Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Fulham (and the League Cup loss to Arsenal), it's back to panic stations for Rafael Benitez and his men as they look to resurrect their Champions League campaign.

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard is a serious doubt for Saturday's match against Fulham after responding slowly to treatment for his recurrent groin complaint.

The midfielder sustained the injury while on England duty three weeks ago, and lasted only 25 minutes in his comeback game against Lyon in the Champions League last week before being forced off.

Manager Rafael Benitez had hoped that Gerrard would be fit enough to feature against the London club, but said that while Fernando Torres is likely to recover from a similar injury, his captain was still a major doubt.

They may have fallen to Arsenal in the League Cup on Wednesday, but Liverpool will nonetheless be in determined mood as they return to the capital this weekend to take on Fulham.

Last Sunday's 2-0 victory over Manchester United ended a four-game losing streak, bringing a wave of relief over the red half of Merseyside and boosting the Anfield giants to within six points of leaders Chelsea.

It was a second-string lineup that lost at the Emirates in midweek, so Rafael Benitez's regulars will be relatively well rested for the visit to Craven Cottage.