Benayoun to be held back

Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun is unlikely to be risked for the visit of Unirea Urziceni in the Europa League tomorrow.

The Israeli has not played since breaking a rib more than a month ago in the FA Cup defeat by Reading and, although he has been training with the squad, he may be held back for Sunday’s match at Manchester City.

January signing Maxi Rodriguez is ineligible having already played in Europe for Atletico Madrid but defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos, currently serving a domestic suspension that rules him out of the trip to Eastlands, is available.

Midfielder Alberto Aquilani is back after missing last Wednesday’s defeat at Arsenal through illness and, although striker Fernando Torres is recovering well from a knee operation, he is not yet close to a comeback.

Provisional squad: Reina, Skrtel, Agger, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Gerrard, Lucas, Aquilani, Riera, Ngog, Kuyt, Cavalieri, Pacheco, Spearing, Darby, Babel, Aurelio, Degen, Kelly.