Benitez ponders Gerrard decision

Rafa Benitez is mulling over whether to play Steven Gerrard against Preston while Fernando Torres could also return for the FA Cup tie.

Reds boss Benitez was originally planning to rest Gerrard against the Championship side but following his arrest and subsequent charge for assault and affray earlier this week following an incident in Southport, he may now decide to start with his skipper at Deepdale.

It's believed Benitez thinks the best way for Gerrard to put the incident to one side is to continue playing and he is expected to be named in the Liverpool squad for the third-round tie on Saturday.

Torres, meanwhile, has been back in full training for over a week now but did not feature over the Christmas period as the club monitor his recovery from another hamstring injury very carefully.

But he is also expected to be in the squad for the tricky Cup game in what will be a boost to the Premier League leaders as they look to start 2009 the same way they finished 2008, but goalkeeper Pepe Reina is aware just how tough the match could be.

"It is always difficult to go and face a lower-division side on their own ground," he said.

"They will be fighting with passion and honour. They want to beat us and produce a shock. But we must match that and have the same mentality to win."