By Peter Fraser Last updated: 21st April 2008
Gerrard: Injury return
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has confirmed Steven Gerrard is fit to face Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League.
The Reds welcome Chelsea to Anfield on Tuesday for the first leg of their semi-final meeting as the two domestic rivals prepare to cross swords in the final four in Europe for the third time.
It had been feared Liverpool skipper Gerrard could miss the encounter on Merseyside after sitting out his side's weekend victory away at Fulham in the Premier League with a neck injury.
However, Benitez has given Gerrard the all-clear to play and the midfielder will lead Liverpool out against Chelsea.
"He is fit," Benitez told Sky Sports News on Monday. "He was training this morning and so he is okay."
Meanwhile, Benitez has played down speculation that Avram Grant will make a summer move for Gerrard after the Chelsea manager was recently quoted as saying he was eager to sign the England star.
Benitez claims he would praise Chelsea players Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard in a similar fashion if he was asked the same questions as Grant.
"When you have so much experience you know that normally these things can happen," said Benitez.
"If you ask me about Drogba or Lampard or someone, then I would say that they are very good players.
"But it is not really important. Everybody knows that Gerrard is a good player and is a key player for us.
"At this stage we have enough experience and we know that if someone asked me, or someone asked Avram Grant, we will talk really well about a player.
"When we were playing against Internazionale (in the last 16) Gerrard was one of the names. People were saying, 'Inter want Gerrard'.
"Hopefully it will be the same in the final against Barcelona or United.
"Steven Gerrard is a fantastic, focused player. His commitment to Liverpool is 100 per cent."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 9th December | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| 19:45 | Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk |
| 19:45 | Basle vs Sporting |
| 19:45 | Chelsea vs CFR Cluj-Napoca |
| 19:45 | Marseille vs Atletico Madrid |
| 19:45 | PSV vs Liverpool |
| 19:45 | Panathinaikos vs Anorthosis Famagusta |
| 19:45 | Roma vs Bordeaux |
| 19:45 | Werder Bremen vs Inter Milan |
| Wednesday 10th December | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| 19:45 | Celtic vs Villarreal |
| 19:45 | Dynamo Kiev vs Fenerbahce |
| 19:45 | FC Porto vs Arsenal |
| 19:45 | Juventus vs BATE |
| 19:45 | Lyon vs Bayern Munich |
| 19:45 | Man Utd vs AaB |
| 19:45 | Real Madrid vs Zenit St Petersburg |
| 19:45 | Steaua Bucuresti vs Fiorentina |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 26th November | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| CFR Cluj-Napoca 1 - 3 Roma | |
| Bordeaux 1 - 1 Chelsea | |
| Anorthosis Famagusta 2 - 2 Werder Bremen | |
| Inter Milan 0 - 1 Panathinaikos | |
| Shakhtar Donetsk 5 - 0 Basle | |
| Sporting 2 - 5 Barcelona | |
| Liverpool 1 - 0 Marseille | |
| Atletico Madrid 2 - 1 PSV | |
| Tuesday 25th November | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| AaB 2 - 1 Celtic | |
| Villarreal 0 - 0 Man Utd | |
| Fiorentina 1 - 2 Lyon | |
| Bayern Munich 3 - 0 Steaua Bucuresti | |
| Fenerbahce 1 - 2 FC Porto | |
| Arsenal 1 - 0 Dynamo Kiev | |
| Zenit St Petersburg 0 - 0 Juventus | |
| BATE 0 - 1 Real Madrid | |
| Wednesday 5th November | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Celtic 1 - 1 Man Utd | |
| AaB 2 - 2 Villarreal | |
| Lyon 2 - 0 Steaua Bucuresti | |
| Fiorentina 1 - 1 Bayern Munich | |
This week's stunning Soccer AM Soccerette was Leeds United fan Lana. Check her out here!
Check out the best and worst moments from the week's UEFA Champions League action.
Pictures from an evening where Liverpool triumph against Marseille but Chelsea are held.
Gregory Coupet has attempted to ease the increasing tension ahead of the trip to Marseille next week.
Uefa have charged Marseille over the behaviour of their fans after an object was thrown at Steven Gerrard.
Roma have been charged with 'insufficient organisation' following trouble at their match against Chelsea.
Rafa Benitez has praised Steven Gerrard for not reacting to being hit by missiles from Marseille fans.
Frank Lampard is adamant that Chelsea can get their faltering Champions League campaign back on track