Benitez drops Gerrard hint

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has given a strong indication that Steven Gerrard will start in Wednesday's Champions League visit of Marseille.

The Reds skipper missed last weekend's goalless draw with Fulham with the same groin muscle problem which forced him to pull out of England duty the previous week.

But Benitez has revealed that his talismanic skipper is available to play the full 90 minutes of the Group D encounter should he be required.

"He was training and is available," said the Spanish coach.

"He could start and I think he could play 90 minutes, but in the end that depends on the player during the game."

Meanwhile, Benitez has called for focus ahead of the meeting with the French side, with last season's 1-0 group stage defeat to Marseille still fresh in the memory.

"Marseille have players with pace and ability - skilful players who are very dangerous," he continued.

"We also have the experience of last season, when we know we didn't play well.

"The people talked about an easy game, but we knew it was going to be difficult. Now everybody knows they have good players, so we need to take care."