Hyppia on the bench for Reds

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez recalled eight players for tonight’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Chelsea at Anfield.

Captain Steven Gerrard and in-form striker Fernando Torres were joined in the starting line-up by Fabio Aurelio, Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa, Dirk Kuyt, Ryan Babel and Jamie Carragher.

Chelsea boss Avram Grant preferred Paulo Ferreira at right-back to Juliano Belletti but the Israeli also made five changes from the side that defeated Everton in the Barclays Premier League last week.

Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack, Claude Makelele and Florent Malouda were all handed a place in his starting line-up.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Kuyt, Alonso, Mascherano, Babel, Gerrard, Torres.

Subs: Itandje, Hyypia, Riise, Benayoun, Crouch, Pennant, Lucas.

Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Lampard, Makelele, Ballack, Joe Cole, Drogba, Malouda.

Subs: Hilario, Shevchenko, Obi, Kalou, Alex, Belletti, Anelka.

Referee: Konrad Plautz (Austria)