Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has hailed the ground-breaking clinic in the Serbian capital Belgrade which has helped several of his players make a quickfire return to full fitness.

Glen Johnson, Fabio Aurelio, Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera are all in contention for the weekend clash with Manchester City, having previously been expected to be out for several weeks

However, treatment by physiotherapist Mariana Kovacevic has led to much quicker than expected recoveries.

Benitez said:"We knew of other players at Premier League clubs who have been to Belgrade for treatment with this lady and we were made aware that it was very effective.

"She has been working for seven years with top-class sportsmen, not just footballers. So she has the experience.

"We felt it was a good opportunity to send some of our players. We sent two, Benayoun and Riera and they came back and started training straight away.

"So we decided to send two more, Johnson and Aurelio, and the same thing has happened. They have been training and all four will be in the squad against City.

"There have been no injections, it is a placenta cream applied with a massage machine that creates waves of pressure.

"We checked it out when we became aware of the different players who had been there. I must admit we have been surprised with how well it has worked."

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