Liverpool name strong team

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was true to his word by fielding a strong side in this Carling Cup semi-final first leg.

Sami Hyypia was out with ‘flu which meant Djimi Traore filled in at centre-back, while striker Milan Baros returned from his hamstring injury to feature among the substitutes.

The Liverpool boss had Steven Gerrard and Dietmar Hamann anchoring midfield, with the only concession to youth being the strike partnership between Neil Mellor and Florent Sinama-Pongolle.

Watford made just one change from the side which held Fulham in the FA Cup on Saturday, with veteran Welsh goalkeeper Paul Jones replacing Alec Chamberlain.

A year ago to the day, Jones made his Liverpool debut while on loan from Wolves for the club he supported as a boy. A warm welcome from the Kop was assured.

Liverpool: Dudek, Finnan, Carragher, Traore, Riise, Nunez, Gerrard, Hamann, Luis Garcia, Mellor, Sinama Pongolle.

Subs: Baros, Biscan, Warnock, Potter, Harrison.

Watford: Jones, Chambers, Cox, Demerit, Darlington, Devlin, Gunnarsson, Ardley, Mahon, Bouazza, Helguson.

Subs: Chamberlain, Dyer, Webber, Doyley, Blizzard.

Referee: S Dunn (Gloucestershire)