Gerrard on the bench for Reds

Steven Gerrard, as expected, was only named on the bench for today’s home Premier League game against Blackburn.

Manager Rafael Benitez indicated yesterday the 28-year-old captain was unlikely to be risked from the start after undergoing scans on a troublesome groin.

Benitez made four changes from the side that lost 3-1 at home to Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday with Daniel Agger, Yossi Benayoun, Javier Mascherano and Emiliano Insua replacing Gerrard, Martin Skrtel, Lucas and Fabio Aurelio.

Blackburn were without El-Hadji Diouf, Jason Roberts and Morten Gamst Pedersen from the side that beat Tottenham last weekend, with Benni McCarthy only on the bench.

Andre Ooijer, Tugay, David Dunn and Keith Treacy were handed starts by Rovers boss Sam Allardyce.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Benayoun, Mascherano, Alonso, Riera, Torres, Kuyt.

Subs: Cavalieri, Dossena, Gerrard, Lucas, Ngog, El Zhar, Skrtel.

Blackburn: Robinson, Andrews, Ooijer, Nelsen, Givet, Mokoena, Dunn, Kerimoglu, Warnock, Treacy, Samba.

Subs: Bunn, McCarthy, Grella, Khizanishvili, Villanueva, Olsson, Doran.

Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire)