Benayoun battling to face Pompey

Midfielder Yossi Benayoun will face a late fitness test ahead of Monday’s Barclays Premier League visit of Portsmouth.

The Israel international missed yesterday’s Europa League defeat in Lille after injuring an ankle in the loss to Wigan earlier in the week.

Fellow midfielder Maxi Rodriguez returns to the domestic squad having been ineligible for Europe.

Defenders Martin Skrtel (broken foot) and Fabio Aurelio (thigh) are still out injured.

Provisional squad: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Sotirios, Insua, Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas, Aquilani, Riera, Rodriguez, Ngog, Kuyt, Torres, Benayoun, Cavalieri, Pacheco, Spearing, Babel, Kelly, Degen.