PREVIEW: Probable Gerrard return gives Liverpool hope

By Ben James Apr 13, 2009, 10:05 GMT

London - Liverpool should have captain Steven Gerrard available as they seek to overturn Chelsea's 3-1 first-leg advantage in the Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.

The England midfielder suffered a recurrence of his groin injury in last week's first leg at Anfield, and was left on the bench for Saturday's 4-0 Premier League victory over Blackburn Rovers.

'Steven is getting better, he has been working with the physio and will train on Monday,' manager Rafael Benitez told journalists.

'We will then discuss the situation with the doctors, but Steven will travel with the party to London and I will make a decision on Tuesday.'

With Liverpool needing goals, though - they must score at least three times - it seems likely that Benitez will take the gamble of fielding Gerrard behind Fernando Torres.

'Obviously we do not want him to break down again, he could then be out for 10 to 16 days,' Benitez said.

'But the injury is not a massive one, it will be a calculated gamble to play him but one that I will consider.

'We are 3-1 down and we know that everything can change if we have Steven in the side and he plays well.'

There may, though, have to be some tactical tinkering, given how successfully Michael Essien snuffed out the threat of Gerrard last week.

'I'd describe myself as a box-to-box midfielder, but I'll always respect the manager's decision, wherever I'm picked to play,' the Ghana international told reporters after Chelsea's 4-3 victory over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.

'I always listen to the manager and I just go onto the field for every game and do what he asks me to do.

'So I don't really mind where I play as long as I'm out there doing a job for the team and the manager.'

Benitez will also welcome back holding midfielder Javier Mascherano from suspension, while Chelsea will be without their captain, John Terry, who is suspended.

The England centre-back is determined that his side should not think the tie is already won, and they were given a warning as to the fragility of leads by Bolton.

Leading 4-0 with 20 minutes remaining on Saturday, Chelsea conceded three in quick succession.

'Liverpool won the Champions League by coming back from three goals down at half-time in the 2005 final, so there must be no complacency,' Terry said.

'It was a fantastic performance by us at Anfield to score three away goals but it hasn't won us the tie.

'We have to give another similar performance next Tuesday to do that.'