Reds on defensive for Barca clash

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez looks set to name Craig Bellamy and Peter Crouch on the bench for tomorrow night’s visit to the Nou Camp with Dirk Kuyt starting as a lone striker and captain Steven Gerrard just behind.

Despite last week’s training incident in Portugal, Norwegian defender Jon Arne Riise should start at the back in the Champions League last 16 match with Jamie Carragher, Alvaro Arbeloa and Daniel Agger.

A four-man midfield in a 4-4-1-1 line-up sees Steve Finnan on the right and Bolo Zenden on the left with Mohamed Sissoko providing the steel in the centre next to the more creative Xabi Alonso.

Provisional squad: Reina, Agger, Carragher, Riise, Finnan, Alonso, Sissoko, Zenden, Gerrard, Kuyt, Gonzalez, Bellamy, Crouch, Fowler, Hyypia, Pennant, Dudek, Arbeloa, Guthrie, Paletta.