Benitez has options

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez must decide whether to change a winning side to get midfielder Xabi Alonso into the starting line-up for tomorrow’s Champions League home clash with Monaco.

Benitez is likely to opt for the successful formation of Saturday’s win over West Brom which saw Luis Garcia playing in a floating role behind Djibril Cisse, although an Alonso return would probably mean Steve Finnan reverting to the bench despite his goalscoring performance at the weekend.

Liverpool have Chris Kirkland still recovering from a back problem while Antonio Nunez may get a run-out in the reserves on Thursday against Sunderland at Wrexham as he continues his comeback from a knee injury.

Provisional squad: Dudek, Josemi, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Kewell, Hamann, Gerrard, Alonso, Garcia, Finnan, Cisse, Baros, Pongolle, Biscan, Diao, Henchoz, Potter, Walsh, Traore, Warnock, Luzi.