Steven Gerrard makes a return for Liverpool in Madrid tonight, but only to the bench.
Liverpool’s swashbuckling midfielder-come-striker has been suffering from a hamstring injury but has not been risked as a starter by Rafa for tonight’s Champions League tie. Bad news for Liverpool fans, good news/bad news for his fantasy owners. Liverpool take on Boro at the weekend and presumably Gerrard will be fit enough to start this one – unless Rafa affords him further rest of course. Much will depend on tonight’s outcome and whether Gerrard is called into action.
In tonight’s other tie, Chelsea fielded another reassuringly predictable lineup with Ashley Cole returning at left-back and Drogba and Anelka in the side again as Hiddink sticks with 4-3-3.
