Struggles: Dirk Kuyt trained for Liverpool on Wednesday but remains a doubtLiverpool are facing a striker crisis ahead of their Europa League showdown with Atletico Madrid.
Needing a victory to reach the final, Liverpool - who are already without Fernando Torres - are now braced to lose back-up forwards David Ngog and Dirk Kuyt for the second leg.
That leaves misfiring Ryan Babel as the man most likely to head Liverpool's attack for their most important match of the season.
Kuyt limped off against in the 4-0 win at Burnley on Sunday with a calf injury, while Ngog has been struggling with a back injury.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez, whose own future could be decided by the semi-final outcome at Anfield, revealed that he will not risk either player as they attempt to overturn the 1-0 deficit against the Spaniards.
Leading men: Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher train at MelwoodHe said: 'Kuyt did not train on Tuesday and will have a light session today. We will decide tomorrow because he still has some problems.
'He is a really important player for us but we will not take any risks with him if it is not necessary.
'Ngog has the same situation with his back. We will have to push him more in training today and then see how he feels tomorrow.'
As well as Torres, Benitez will also be without long-term crocks Fabio Aurelio, Martin Skrtel and Emiliano Insua.
Problems: Rafa Benitez is desperate to reach the Europa League finalMeanwhile, Atletico striker Diego Forlan says he is confident of triumphing at Anfield after his experience of winning there with Manchester United.
The striker said: 'I hope to score at Anfield. The truth is that in all the times I've played there, I've won.
'Obviously the matches have been very complicated, because they (Liverpool) are always difficult to play against. But, whoever scores, I hope we can come away with a good result and reach the final we all dream about.
'I've always liked to score goals, especially at great and historic grounds. This is the case, for example, with the next game in Liverpool.
'It's always been a special desire of mine to play in these types of games, they are the types of games that as a child you watch on television with the hope of being in one of them one day.'
source: dailymail
