Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez may have to do without his skipper Steven Gerrard for the Premier League encounters against Manchester United and Everton, according to a top surgeon.

The English International will be operated upon on Thursday for a groin operation that will see him miss England’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia.

According to Benitez, Gerrard will be out for between 10-15 days. However Nicola Maffulli of the British Orthopaedic Association insisted that the 28-year old could be on the sidelines for as long as six weeks.

Maffulli said: “It all depends on what the diagnosis is.

“If he needs a tendon or a groin operation then 10-15 days off is a little optimistic and one would look for three to six weeks off.

"On the other hand, he is a very fit young man and he will recover quickly.

“His surgeon will have had many investigations and will have ascertained what needs to be done and it will be done there and then.

“The least possible time is 15 days, but a more realistic time is at least three to six weeks.”