Gerrard fit for Reds

Liverpool fans breathed a sigh of relief as star player Steven Gerrard was passed fit to face Southampton at St Mary’s after a groin injury scare.

The England midfielder’s return was one of eight changes in Rafael Benitez’s side following the shock FA Cup exit at Burnley in midweek.

Fernando Morientes, Milan Baros, Luis Garcia and Mauricio Pellegrino were all back in the starting line-up for Liverpool, who had new £750,000 goalkeeper Scott Carson among the substitutes.

But it was more gloom for Saints, with £2.1m (€3m) new signing Nigel Quashie ruled out with a knee ligament injury sustained in training in his first week away from local rivals Portsmouth.

Anders Svensson filled his place, with Trinidad & Tobago striker Kenwyne Jones on the bench.

Southampton: Niemi, Telfer, Lundekvam, Davenport, Higginbotham, Nilsson, Prutton, Delap, Redknapp, Anders Svensson, Crouch. Subs: Jakobsson, Oakley, Smith, Jones, Ormerod.

Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Hyypia, Pellegrino, Warnock, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Hamann, Riise, Baros, Morientes. Subs: Traore, Sinama Pongolle, Biscan, Raven, Carson.

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire)