TO THE delight of Liverpool fans Rafael Benitez yesterday added the names of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to his squad to face Manchester United this afternoon, despite declaring them unfit for international duty in midweek.
"We have been working with them all week and I am speaking to the physio, the fitness coach and the doctor every day. I think they can play if necessary," said Benitez, whose delight at their availability was shared by Liverpool's goalkeeper Jose Reina.
"I'm confident at least one of them will play and hopefully both," Reina said. "Judging by what I've seen and heard this week, the doctors and the physiotherapists are optimistic."
If Reina is upbeat, the England coach, Fabio Capello, could be forgiven for feeling differently. He was denied Gerrard for the World Cup qualifiers in Andorra and Croatia and while his frustration may have subsided in the wake of the 4-1 victory in Zagreb - and Spain too scored four in dispatching midweek opponents without Torres - Capello was critical of Benitez's withdrawal of Gerrard from the England squad.
Suspicions over the timing of Gerrard's surgery are inevitable but they are not shared by Reina.
"I don't expect there to be any backlash from England or complaints from Capello," he said. "If Gerrard plays for Liverpool, it's because he's fit. Just because he can play for Liverpool doesn't mean that he could have played for the national team.
"I think in both Fernando and Steven's cases that is perfectly understandable. If they couldn't play for their countries but can play for Liverpool, so be it. That's normal. Besides, both England and Spain won so why pour more petrol on the fire?"
Reina also urged fans to be patient with Liverpool and €24 millionsigning Robbie Keane despite their stuttering start to the season, insisting that at this early stage only results matter:
"It's true that we have been struggling to win games but it's also true other teams find it really hard to beat us. I think we're going to continue to be a tough, aggressive and competitive side this year. What we need to do now is weed out one or two of our failings up front and kill games off better.
"Robbie has played five or six games for Liverpool. He still needs to get used to playing for us and the team still needs to get used to him but I'm sure we'll see a more comfortable Robbie Keane - one who understands his team-mates better and who fits the system better. He's going to be a very important player for us."
Reina admitted today's fixture has come too soon to expect either side to be at their peak. "Both sides are struggling a bit physically, which is normal - it always takes a while for teams to get up and running properly," he said.
"Maybe it has come a little early. But it's always nice to play against United and, who knows, it could be good for us. Cristiano Ronaldo is a decisive player and if he's not available, so much the better."
Guardian Service
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