Kewell misses out

Liverpool will be without Harry Kewell for the visit of Premiership leaders Chelsea.

The Australian has been ruled out for a month following specialist treatment to cure a groin strain.

But Liverpool hope to have top scorer Milan Baros back after he was rested for the midweek win over Southampton due to a slight recurrence of his hamstring problem.

Steve Finnan is also expected to have recovered from having eight stitches in a leg wound sustained in the first half against Southampton.

Midfielder Dietmar Hamann and defender Djimi Traore – both rested in midweek - should return, which means youngster Stephen Warnock will drop to the bench.

Liverpool provisional squad: Dudek, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Nunez, Gerrard, Hamann, Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia, Riise, Diao, Warnock, Baros, Mellor, Sinama-Pongolle, Harrison.