Hamann boost for Liverpool

Liverpool will be without the suspended Xabi Alonso for their Champions League semi-final second leg against Chelsea at Anfield tomorrow.

German midfielder Dietmar Hamann came through his comeback unscathed against Middlesbrough following a knee injury and is expected to face the new Premier League champions.

Hamann played only the final 10 minutes of the 1-1 draw against Boro – his first action after missing eight matches. Harry Kewell completed the full 90 minutes of a match for the first time since mid-December following groin problems and is also expected to play.

Manager Rafael Benitez rested Milan Baros, Djimi Traore, Sami Hyypia, Igor Biscan and Luis Garcia against Boro, but all will return to face Chelsea.

Mauricio Pellegrino and Fernando Morientes are cup-tied, while Spanish full-back Josemi has had a slight recurrence of his ankle injury following a reserve comeback last week and is out for a further 10 days.

Provisional squad: Dudek, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Traore, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Hamann, Riise, Kewell, Baros, Cisse, Smicer, Nunez, Carson, Le Tallec, Warnock, Welsh, Potter.