Benitez to decide on changes

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is facing a selection dilemma ahead of the Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen next week.

England midfielder Steven Gerrard is ruled out of the home first-leg game a week tomorrow through suspension while Spain striker Fernando Morientes is cup-tied.

Milan Baros could be the only fully-fit forward available as Neil Mellor is still suffering from a knee problem while Djibril Cisse and Florent Sinama-Pongolle are long-term absentees.

Darren Potter and Anthony Le Tallec could force their way into contention over the next seven days.

Benitez might also be able to call on Harry Kewell, Josemi and Vladmir Smicer.

The experienced trio are back from injury and scheduled to have a run-out for the reserves against Newcastle tonight at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground.

Liverpool have a clear week before the match against Leverkusen as they are out of the FA Cup.

The break gives Benitez the chance to assess the manner of the defeat at Birmingham at the weekend and try to turn things around.

Former Anfield striker John Aldridge believes the team are struggling to find consistency because of a lack of balance.

“Liverpool’s problems all of this season are down the right-hand side, “ he told Sky Sports.

“They lack so much balance, because on the left you get (John Arne) Riise putting good balls in. But down the right the manager has tried five or six players but it has just not happened for him.”

On the display at Birmingham, he said: “It was very, very poor, probably the worst display I have seen this season from the players. The manager deserved better.”

Meanwhile Leverkusen defeated lowly Mainz 2-0 yesterday and are lying sixth in the table, six points adrift of leaders Bayern Munich.