Duo close to Liverpool return

Liverpool are close to having Milan Baros and Florent Sinama-Pongolle back in action after successful midweek reserve run-outs.

But it is unlikely that either will get closer than the substitutes’ bench in Liverpool’s vital away Lancashire derby with Bolton, who are just two points behind them in the race for European qualification.

And despite a return to something like decent form of late, Liverpool have still gone three Barclaycard Premiership games without a win and dare not slip up at the Reebok Stadium against a team who have already beaten them this term in the Carling Cup and have lost only two of their last 13 games, reaching a Cardiff final in the process.

Liverpool are unlikely to change the side that drew with Everton, with Emile Heskey (hamstring) the only player now not in full training, Vladimir Smicer and Chris Kirkland having returned this week.

Provisional squad: Dudek, Finnan, Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher, Kewell, Gerrard, Hamann, Le Tallec, Cheyrou, Owen, Murphy, Rise, Traore, Biscan, Luzi, Baros, Pongolle, Smicer.