Gerrard set for Reds return

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is expected to bring captain Steven Gerrard back into the Reds’ starting line-up to face Manchester United on Sunday.

Benitez rested Gerrard, Steve Finnan, Djibril Cisse, Stephen Warnock and Dietmar Hamann to the bench for Tuesday’s Champions League win away to Real Betis, but only Gerrard can expect to go straight back into the first team.

Benitez still has Fernando Morientes out with a hamstring injury, while Harry Kewell and Neil Mellor are long-term injury victims.

PROVISIONAL SQUAD: Reina, Josemi, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Warnock, Traore, Luis Garcia, Hamann, Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Sissoko, Sinama-Pongolle, Crouch, Cisse, Riise, Zenden, Carson.