Benitez welcomes back Gerrard
Steven Gerrard is ready for Sunday's showdown
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Thursday, 19, Oct 2006 09:54
Steven Gerrard will be back in the Liverpool midfield to face Manchester United in a crunch Premiership tie this Sunday.
The inspirational skipper was absent for the midweek Champions League clash at Bordeaux, but the hamstring strain that kept him on Merseyside has responded to treatment.
"He couldn't improve in two or three days and it would have been a risk to use him," said manager Rafael Benitez.
"The idea was to keep him training here and working. I think he's okay. He was training today," the Spaniard continued.
Mohammed Sissoko and Dirk Kuyt, who were both introduced from the bench during Wednesday's 1-0 win, could return to the starting line-up for the fixture.
Meanwhile, Daniel Agger, who has impressed at the heart of defence since joining from Brondby in January, should also overcome a hand injury sustained whilst on Danish international duty.
The Anfield side are already eight points off the early-season pacesetters and will be hoping they can avenge the defeat that Rio Ferdinand's header inflicted in the corresponding fixture last season.