In midfield, Benitez will check on the fitness of Javier Mascherano who has now served a three match ban after being sent off at Portsmouth before Christmas.

The LIverpool manager also has the option of drafting Jay Spearing in and pushing Alberto Aquilani further up into the second striker role until Gerrard returns.

Meanwhile, Torres has claimed that Liverpool must now win the Europa League to save the season while also issuing a warning to the club’s owners that they have to spend big to challenge for top honours in future.

"We didn’t want to win the Europa League at the start of the season but it’s a reality now," said Torres.

"Now we have to win it. Anything less than winning the tournament would be terrible.

“If we do not win it then we have to say it’s been a very, very, very bad season in Europe.

"We need to improve, we need to take responsibility and we need to get into the top four and win something. We have virtually no chance of winning the title now.

“Now we need to make the best of this situation."

Liverpool co-chairman Tom Hicks Snr pledged this week that next summer will be big for Liverpool in the transfer market.

And Torres hopes the American, who remains reluctant to part company with Benitez during the season, sticks to his word.

“It’s now the owners’ turn,” insisted the number nine. “They have to sign players so that this does not happen again.

“If we want to compete with United and Chelsea we need a much, much more complete squad.

“We need more genuinely first class players and we can’t let our best players leave.”