Benitez must decide on Carragher

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez must decide whether to risk Jamie Carragher at Reading tomorrow, with the fear that a booking will see the defender banned from next weekend’s showdown with Manchester United.

Carragher has recovered from a rib injury, but Benitez has teenager Jack Hobbs on stand-by while Daniel Agger is close to a return after a metatarsal injury.

The Merseysiders have Agger, Xabi Alonso and Fabio Aurelio all back in training and it is likely that all three will figure at some point as Liverpool face tough matches in little over a week against Marseille, United and Chelsea, in the Carling Cup.

Provisional squad: Reina, Arbeloa, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Hobbs, Riise, Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas, Sissoko, Kewell, Babel, Kuyt, Voronin, Crouch, Torres, Itandje.