Benitez fears for Gerrard fitness

Gerrard faces a tough programme as Liverpool captain

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez fears the Football Association is risking the fitness of England's World Cup pair Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.

Gerrard and Carragher play a second game in three days in the FA Cup tie against Birmingham on Tuesday.

The FA Cup quarter-finals are being played this week to help England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's World Cup plans.

But Benitez said: "All the English players, if they played twice in three days, will be more at risk."

And he added: "I'm sure you cannot see the best of players like Gerrard and Carragher just three days after another game.

"The England players playing two games in three days will be more at risk of injuries. The FA needs to look at it."

A player is at his worst in terms of his physical condition two days after a game Rafael Benitez

Gerrard has made 50 appearances already this season, while Carragher has played in 47 games.

Liverpool's FA Cup tie comes swiftly after their win at Newcastle on Sunday.

It is part of the plan to give Eriksson an extra week of preparation with his squad before this summer's World Cup in Germany.

Benitez added: "If you lose two or three players during the season, how can that help England?

"It is impossible to play twice in three days with just a day in between matches. A player is at his worst in terms of his physical condition two days after a game.

"He can be 70% three days after, but he certainly cannot play at his level and the risk of injury is so much more."

West Ham boss Alan Pardew criticised the heavy load last week after seeing his side come through a fifth-round replay against Bolton.

The Hammers faced three games in five days and Pardew responded by fielding a weakened side in their Premiership defeat to Portsmouth at the weekend in order to give his side some rest.

West Ham booked a semi-final place by defeating Manchester City on Monday.