Liverpool Football Club News

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Gerrard will play at Preston

02 Jan 2009 - 14:17:03

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Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed that Steven Gerrard will play against Preston North End in Saturday's FA Cup third round trip to Deepdale.

Gerrard, 28, faces charges of assault and affray following a clash outside a Southport nightspot earlier in the week.

The England midfielder was one of six people arrested in the early hours of Monday morning following an altercation which left one man needing hospital treatment for a facial injury.

Gerrard was released from Southport police station in the early hours of Tuesday morning after being charged and bailed along with two other men.

But despite his week in the headlines, Benitez has backed his skipper to play some part against the Championship club.

On Thursday, Benitez vowed to give his full support to his captain in a statement.

"Steven has been okay, training normally. I said in the statement that I've talked to him. I am supporting him 100 per cent. The best thing for us is that he is focused on football, training well and he will play tomorrow," the Spaniard told the club's official website.

"Everyone has been supporting him. We know what's going on and it's clear that it's a special situation but we have to support him because we trust him.

"He is a professional and a very, very good one. He will just be thinking about football. Hopefully he will score some goals, play as well as he was before and everyone will be talking about the game."

Meanwhile, Benitez has also revealed that Fernando Torres will be part of the squad following the Spain striker's five-week lay-off with a hamstring injury.

"Torres will be in the squad. If we need him he can play. He is not 100 per cent because he hasn't got the match fitness. But he is ready," added Benitez.