Benitez wary of Preston threat

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez expects FA Cup rivals Preston to play at “150%” when he sends Steven Gerrard back into action tonight at Deepdale in a third-round tie.

Gerrard will play in the match despite having been charged with assault and affray after an alleged incident at a nightclub earlier this week.

With an appearance at North Sefton Magistrates’ Court set for the end of the month, Benitez could have kept the England star out of the spotlight this weekend.

But Gerrard will play in the tie, with Fernando Torres, Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio and Alvaro Arbeloa all returning from long-term injuries.

Benitez was once accused of under-valuing the FA Cup when he sent out a weakened side that was beaten at Burnley three years ago.

Now Benitez insists that he has squad depth that will enable him to rest some players in a competition he admits he would like to do well in.

He says: “It is a great competition, and there are always shocks when smaller sides produce performances better than expected.”