“We have seen Steven playing really well for a while now,” said the Liverpool manager. “He is one of our big names, a key player. He will continue to be that.

“He will know that he has played a couple of games that are not up to his best level. But because he so often plays really well, people maybe can see the difference.

“I know he will be ready now. The players are not stupid, they know when they are not playing well and not up to their best standard. He knows, everybody knows here, that we have to improve.”

However, Benitez does not believe Gerrard has been affected by the summer court case and acquittal following a nightclub incident in December.

“For Steven that has not been a problem,” said the Spaniard. “I was not naming any particular player when I was critical after the defeat by Villa.

“But it is clear that everyone has to improve, we have analysed things and we have talked to all the players.”

New signing Sotirios Kyrgiakos, who played 45 minutes for the reserves in their 3-2 defeat to Blackburn Rovers on Thursday, could make his debut today with concerns persisting over Martin Skrtel’s jaw injury.

“Kyrgiakos is in the squad,” said Benitez. “We wanted to play him for 45 minutes for the reserves as it would be good for him to have experience with English referee and players.

“He hasn’t got much experience of it, but at least he has some knowledge now.”

Fabio Aurelio has returned to training while Daniel Agger and Nabil El Zhar are improving following their back and knee problems respectively.

Benitez, meanwhile, admitted his surprise that Liverpool physio Dave Galley has been barred from working with the England squad in next week’s double-header with Slovenia and Croatia.

Galley has worked with the under-21 squad for more than a decade and was promoted last month to the senior set-up, but Manchester United chief executive David Gill raised concerns over the inclusion of a non-independent member of the national team’s medical staff.

Referring to a policy introduced by the Football Association last year designed to ensure that only independent medical staff are appointed to work with the national team, Gill is unhappy a rival club’s physiotherapist having access to valuable information about the fitness of players from other teams.

But Benitez said: “We are surprised with what happened but it’s up to the FA, we can’t manage this situation. I prefer if the FA can manage the situation, then it will be better.”