Mascherano and Benayoun out of Champions League time

Javier Mascherano and Yossi Benayoun are out of Liverpool’s Champions League squad against Fiorentina tomorrow in the Group E clash in Italy.

Midfielder Mascherano, who only came on as a late substitute for Steven Gerrard in Saturday’s 6-1 hammering of Hull, is suffering from sickness, while Benayoun picked up a leg injury in the same match. Neither travelled today with the party.

Boss Rafael Benitez may well have opted for a more cautious approach against Fiorentina had Mascherano been available, but it is now likely that that winger Albert Riera will stay in the side.

Youngster Martin Kelly is unavailable due to England U-20 commitments.

Liverpool provisional squad: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Torres, Cavalieri, Aurelio, Dossena, Agger, Plessis, Voronin, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Riera, Spearing.