Kuyt battling to be fit to face Atletico

Dirk Kuyt is having intensive treatment in a bid to be fit for Liverpool's crunch Europa League clash with Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Thursday night.

The Dutchman was forced off with a calf injury during Sunday's 4-0 win at Burnley and is a doubt for the semi-final second leg.

Kuyt worked with the physios at Melwood yesterday and is desperate not to miss out on the chance to fire the Reds into the final in Hamburg on May 12.

Boss Rafa Benitez is hopeful Kuyt will face the Spaniards and will give him every chance to prove his fitness.

With 22-goal top scorer Fernando Torres recovering from a knee operation and rookie frontman David Ngog troubled by a back injury he picked up in the first leg, Kuyt is crucial to the Reds' hopes of overturning the 1-0 deficit.

If the 29-year-old, who is the club's third top scorer with 11 goals this season, fails to make it then Benitez could be left with no fit strikers and a major selection headache.

Ngog is also having treatment in a bid to play some part against Atletico and Benitez can only wait and hope his two strikers make a swift recovery.

If they both fail to make it then the manager would have little option but to play Ryan Babel as a lone frontman.

Meanwhile, AEK Athens have requested the services of four Liverpool fringe players on loan next season.

Top of the Greek outfit's wish list is to retain the services of Krisztian Nemeth, who has impressed during an injury-hit season in Greece.

New AEK president Stavros Adamidis has asked to keep the 21-year-old Hungarian striker for another 12 months and is hoping Benitez will also allow others to make the move on a temporary basis.

The cash-strapped club are keen to secure French midfielder Damien Plessis, winger Nabil El Zhar and young defender Chris Mavinga.

Benitez will make a decision on the players' futures at the end of the campaign.

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