Liverpool v Portsmouth

Liverpool will give a late fitness test to Yossi Benayoun, who missed the Europa League defeat to Lille with an ankle injury.

Fellow midfielder Maxi Rodriguez returns to the squad having been ineligible for Europe.

Portsmouth could welcome back Aaron Mokoena (knee), Anthony Vanden Borre (hamstring) and Tommy Smith (groin).

Club administrator Andrew Andronkiou has promised no players will be sold before next month's FA Cup semi-final.

Liverpool

Doubtful: Benayoun (ankle)

Injured: Aurelio (thigh), Skrtel (metatarsal)

Portsmouth

Doubtful: Mokoena (knee), Smith (groin) & Vanden Borre (hamstring)

Injured: Boateng (ankle)

MATCH PREVIEW

It has been another rollercoaster week for Pompey - reaching the FA Cup semi-finals yet laying off 85 staff as their administrator seeks a buyer for the club.

Portsmouth have enjoyed more cup wins than league victories this season but one of those league successes was against Liverpool, who are having a mini-crisis of their own at the moment.

In their 29th league game last season, Rafa Benitez's side enjoyed a famous 4-1 win at Old Trafford; their 29th of this campaign last Monday saw them slump to a 1-0 defeat at Wigan.

Manager Benitez was uncharacteristically critical of his team after that loss - but things have not got any better, with Thursday's defeat at Lille putting them in danger of exiting the Europa League.

And to lose further ground in the race for the fourth Champions League spot by dropping points against the club bottom of the table is something that Benitez simply cannot afford to contemplate.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the views or position of Liverpool Football Club.