Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish will not risk Steven Gerrard's fitness just because of Saturday's Merseyside derby. The Reds skipper has only recently recovered from a groin injury which kept him sidelined for six months and is yet to start a match this season.
Reports suggest the 30-year-old will be on the bench when the Reds make the short trip to Goodison Park to face Everton on Saturday lunch-time.
But Dalglish made it clear his skipper's fitness takes priority.
He told Liverpool's official website: "No. The game is not the important thing - Steven Gerrard is more important.
"As we've said before, we'll manage Steven as well as we possibly can."
