Benitez facing poser

Rafael Benitez will have to juggle players of varying fitness as he considers his side for the Champions League first qualifying round first leg against Welsh champions TNS at Anfield.

Harry Kewell, Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Neil Mellor are all out of the frame as they recover from operations while Antonio Nunez will not be involved because of his expected return to Spain.

Boss Benitez must also consider whether he can risk cup-tying players for European competition who he may well still be preparing to sell.

Milan Baros and Jerzy Dudek come into that category.

New £6m goalkeeper Jose ‘Pepe’ Reina is expected to make his debut, as is midfielder Bolo Zenden, while Morientes will finally play in the Champions League for Liverpool having been ineligible last season.

Provisional squad: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Luis Garcia, Xabi Alonso, Gerrard, Hamann, Zenden, Cisse, Morientes, Dudek, Josemi, Welsh, Warnock, Baros, Le Tallec, Potter, Whitbread.