Liverpool FC hope Yossi Benayoun will be fit to face Portsmouth
13 Mar 2010 - 10:00:00
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LIVERPOOL will monitor Yossi Benayoun's fitness over the weekend in the hope he will be able to make an immediate return to action against Portsmouth.
The Israeli midfielder missed Thursday night's Europa League defeat in Lille after he picked up a knock to his ankle during the 1-0 reverse at Wigan three days earlier.
It had been hoped Benayoun would make the trip to France but a fitness test at Melwood before the Reds flew out for the first leg of their round of 16 tie ruled him out.
He has since undergone intensive treatment and is responding well but boss Rafa Benitez will leave the decision on whether Benayoun features on Monday as late as possible.
Benayoun enjoyed a terrific start to the campaign but since damaging his hamstring in a 2-2 draw with Birmingham City in November his form has ebbed and flowed.
Benitez, though, will be anxious to get him back in his starting line-up as Benayoun had been linking well with Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres before this latest setback.
Maxi Rodriguez will also return to Liverpool's squad after ineligibility ruled him out of the Lille game to give Benitez more options, as the club aim to get back into the top four.
