Liverpool's Champions League hopes were boosted today when Javier Mascherano was included in the party to travel for tomorrow's last-16 second-leg clash with Inter Milan.
Mascherano limped out of last week's 4-0 Premier League win over West Ham with a groin injury and missed Saturday's 3-0 success against Newcastle.
Boss Rafael Benitez was always confident his newly signed €24 million midfielder would be fit to face Inter match — and he was proved correct today.
But Liverpool — already 2-0 ahead from the first leg and anxious to join Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in the last eight — are missing former Republic of Ireland full-back Steve Finnan, who has a hamstring problem.
Vice-captain Jamie Carragher will set a club record when he plays his 100th European game in the San Siro.
Provisional squad: Reina, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Hyypia, Skrtel,
Carragher, Riise, Pennant, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Babel,
Benayoun, Lucas, Crouch, Kuyt, Torres, Itandje.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)