Steven Gerrard is to be handed the opportunity to put a difficult week to one side and return to matters on the pitch as Rafael Benitez includes him in Liverpool’s side to face Preston North End in the third round of the FA Cup.
Benitez had planned to rest his captain for the tricky tie, though after Gerrard was arrested and charged with assault and affray resulting from an incident in a Southport nightclub, the Spaniard has changed his thinking, according to a report in the Sun.
Gerrard faces a court case later this month and a possible jail sentence if found guilty.
The player himself has been eager to return to the day-to-day business of playing for his home town club and Benitez has come round to the idea that time spent on the field will help Gerrard more than shielding him from public scrutiny.
Manager and player held a long meeting earlier in the week in which Benitez repeated his public backing for Gerrard and promised to do everything in his power to help him through the difficulties.
Liverpool may also see the welcome return of striker Fernando Torres for the trip to Deepdale.
The Spaniard has been out of action for over a month with hamstring problems but after narrowly missing out on a place on the bench for Liverpool’s 5-1 humbling of Newcastle he is set to play some part against the Championship play-off hopefuls.
Preston are in decent form in their division and with home support are likely to test the Premier League leaders, with Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina all too aware of the pitfalls ahead.
“It is always difficult to go and face a lower-division side on their own ground,” said Reina, “because they will be fighting with passion and honour.
“They want to beat us and produce a shock. But we must match that and have the same mentality to win.”
Benitez had planned to rest his captain for the tricky tie, though after Gerrard was arrested and charged with assault and affray resulting from an incident in a Southport nightclub, the Spaniard has changed his thinking, according to a report in the Sun.
Gerrard faces a court case later this month and a possible jail sentence if found guilty.
The player himself has been eager to return to the day-to-day business of playing for his home town club and Benitez has come round to the idea that time spent on the field will help Gerrard more than shielding him from public scrutiny.
Manager and player held a long meeting earlier in the week in which Benitez repeated his public backing for Gerrard and promised to do everything in his power to help him through the difficulties.
Liverpool may also see the welcome return of striker Fernando Torres for the trip to Deepdale.
The Spaniard has been out of action for over a month with hamstring problems but after narrowly missing out on a place on the bench for Liverpool’s 5-1 humbling of Newcastle he is set to play some part against the Championship play-off hopefuls.
Preston are in decent form in their division and with home support are likely to test the Premier League leaders, with Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina all too aware of the pitfalls ahead.
“It is always difficult to go and face a lower-division side on their own ground,” said Reina, “because they will be fighting with passion and honour.
“They want to beat us and produce a shock. But we must match that and have the same mentality to win.”
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