Benitez praises Gerrard

Rafael Benitez believes Steven Gerrard is approaching his "unstoppable" best as he leads a much happier club into what could be a triumphant Champions League night at Anfield tonight.

One more victory in Group C against Bordeaux - and a failure by Galatasaray to get anything from their away tie with PSV Eindhoven - will see Liverpool reach the second phase of the competition with two games to spare.

That would be a best-ever performance in the group stages by Liverpool, who qualified with one game to spare last season, and a memorable last-game assault on Olympiacos - thanks to a stunning Gerrard goal - the season before.

Benitez will be in a far better frame of mind ahead of this game than he was on Saturday before the impressive 3-1 win over Aston Villa.

He had been subjected to a barrage of criticism over his management style from an unnamed director as well as his handling of Gerrard, amid rumours that their relationship is not what it should be.

Since then the furore over Gerrard has been discounted on all sides, while Liverpool's board have apologised for the uproar caused by one of their number, who has still to be identified.

Benitez can concentrate his side on the job in hand against a French side they beat 1-0 away a fortnight ago.

Benitez sees Gerrard playing in a versatile role and also praised the importance of Mohamed Sissoko, playing in a central role, as it benefits both the team and Gerrard's free role. Benitez said: "Momo is as important as Steven, because he can play in the middle and work and cover when Steven is attacking from different avenues.

"Momo can stop players and that is the balance we are looking for. Look at our left-back, for example. If Gerrard is in front of him on the left and then goes inside that means the opposing full back has to decide whether to go with him or to stay out wide. Whatever he does he has a problem. Steven is then attacking or if he goes with him, it leaves space for our full-back to attack.

"Momo provides the opportunity for Steven to attack with confidence that there is cover. It is a balance that a big team needs."

It is clear Sissoko's recovery from a minor ankle injury is crucial to Benitez's plans against a Bordeaux outfit bottom of the group.

Benitez said: "Momo was always trying to improve when he was with me at Valencia. He has done so well, he arrived as a very young man in Spain speaking only French and had to learn the language, then a couple of seasons later he has arrived at Liverpool and has to learn English.

"This is not easy for anyone, certainly not someone so young. I am very pleased with him because he has been an impressive person on and off the pitch.

"He has become so important for us. He gives us a physical power that is vital in top-class football these days."

Following the anonymous boardroom assault on his abilities, Benitez has emerged more powerful than ever, with the Anfield crowd giving him a massive reception on Saturday.

For tonight, though, Liverpool have injury worries over five players, including Gerrard. The midfielder has a minor ankle injury, as has Sissoko - both from Saturday's victory over Aston Villa.

Mark Gonzalez missed that game with a similar injury, while Craig Bellamy (calf) and Fabio Aurelio (hamstring) are also doubts.

But after changing his side for 99 successive matches, manager Rafael Benitez could even send out an unchanged side against the French club, considering the limited options left to him.

Jerzy Dudek, despite being suspended for domestic competition, can return as stand-by goalkeeper in Europe.

Bordeaux, meanwhile, have not won any of their last five matches against English opponents and their two previous journeys across the English Channel have proved fruitless.

They lost 1-0 at Aston Villa in the 1997-98 Uefa Cup first round and 2-0 at Manchester United in the 1999-2000 Champions League second group stage.