Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez revealed that Gerrard has been playing through constant pain after the Anfield side forced their way into the Champions League group stages.

A goal two minutes from the end of extra-time by Dirk Kuyt gave Liverpool a 1-0 aggregate victory over a brave Standard Liege side in the third qualifying round.

But it was clear that Gerrard was not at his best, and he will now go under the knife on Thursday to make sure he is fit to lead Liverpool into the group stages in September.

Gerrard will miss Liverpool's trip to Aston Villa on Sunday, the England encounters with Andorra and Croatia and possibly Liverpool's home league match with Manchester United on 13th September.

keep going

Benitez told the club's official website:"I'm disappointed because Gerrard will have an operation tomorrow (Thursday)," he said.

"He has a groin problem. We knew it could be like this and I was surprised when I was reading some of the newspapers saying he has to play and has to start. Now he will have an operation and will be out for 10-15 days.

"It isn't too long but he needs to have it because he has been having pain with it. When he went with the national team we knew he had a problem and in the first-leg too.

"I was talking with the doctor yesterday and today we talked with him (Gerrard). He said he would play with pain and after it he would have an operation.

"He knew he had to keep going tonight and did so because he knew he was having it tomorrow." 

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