Liverpool sweat on Alonso fitness

Liverpool fly down to Cardiff this evening hoping that Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso’s badly twisted ankle shows no reaction from a second training session.

If Alonso is fit, skipper Steven Gerrard is likely to take a wide right role in midfield. But if the Spanish international fails to make it, Gerrard will play alongside Mohamed Sissoko with Djibril Cisse possibly landing a start on the flanks, with Harry Kewell on the other wing.