Liverpool look for ‘big solutions’

RAFAEL BENITEZ will turn to “big names to solve big problems” when he sends out a patched-up Liverpool at the Stadio Delle Alpi tonight in a bid to reach the last four of the Champions League.

Robbed of his influential skipper Steven Gerrard with a groin injury, Benitez has turned to Xabi Alonso and Djibril Cisse as the Reds look to defend their 2-1 lead from the first leg.

Alonso has played only 45 minutes of a reserve game since New Years’ Day when he broke his ankle and striker Cisse has not even managed that, having badly broken his leg at Blackburn in October.

But as Benitez surveys an injury-ravaged squad without Dietmar Hamann, Harry Kewell, Josemi, Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Neil Mellor, as well as Gerrard, he has little alternative to turn to players who will without doubt be playing from memory.

Benitez says: “The bad news is that Gerrard is not fit but the good news is that Alonso and Cisse are in the squad and we have big players back for a big occasion.

“Cisse will not start, but he is training with the team now and if we need something different and have big problems then he will come on.

“In Spain we say ‘big problems with big solutions’ and I am confident he will be able to have an impact.

“It is not a risk taking Alonso, but he lacks the intensity needed for these games but he is a clever player and maybe we could use Xabi in the second half.

“Losing Steven is a massive blow, but we decided to make an immediate decision rather than to take him to Turin and then have to waste that time without him being able to have proper treatment.

“He was a doubt, maybe he could have travelled, but it was a risk and we do not want to lose the player for the rest of the season.”

Without Gerrard, Alonso could even be asked to orchestrate the midfield, but Benitez may still decide just to use the Spanish international in the second half.

Alonso is certainly up for the challenge, saying: “Even though the game is very important, I feel physically ready for Turin. I am fully recuperated and I feel very comfortable with both my game and overall fitness.”

Benitez, obviously, is not so sure, but has little choice but to take the risk on Alonso in a game that is the biggest Liverpool have faced in Europe for 20 years.

He says: “We have big problems and need big solutions, that is why Cisse and Alonso are with us. They can both have an impact and we want big players back in the squad.

“We have had some bad blows, Gerrard is the latest, but I believe in the next couple of weeks we will have big players back. Josemi, Harry Kewell, Didi Hamann are all close to a return.

“Steve is a big player for us, we thought about using him, but it was a risk and we wanted him to have treatment and be ready for the next game. We will just have to work on different things with different players.

“Alonso can play, the ankle is no problem, but he does not have the physical condition needed for this level.

“But he is a good passer and clever player and he can control the game. We must decide whether he starts or plays only the second half.

“Cisse is only an option at the end of the game, after six months he is not fit. But he is quick and was the top scorer in France for several seasons so if we have a problem maybe he can be involved in the later stages.”