Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez expects to welcome influential skipper Steven Gerrard back to the squad for Sunday's crucial Premier League match against relegation threatened Newcastle United.  The England midfielder has not featured since the Champions League quarter-final first leg defeat against Chelsea on April 8 after sustaining an abductor injury.
  News that the 28-year-old has recovered is a timely boost for Benitez whose side could find themselves six points adrift of league leaders and title rivals Manchester United come kick-off at Anfield, as Sir Alex Ferguson's side are in action on Saturday against struggling Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
  Liverpool are currently 3 points behind United, and also with 3 points separating them from Chelsea who are close behind. A draw or loss could see Chelsea overtaking, if they win their game. A win will either leave their position undisturbed, or see them getting level with United.

   Meanwhile, Newcastle's interim manager has urged his players not to lose faith and become despondent in their desperate battle to avoid relegation.  With four matches to play Newcastle are in the drop zone in 18th place, three points behind Hull City who occupy the relative safety of 17th place.

''We can't get our heads down. There's still a lot of work to be done and we're still in there fighting,'' said Shearer on Newcastle's television channel.
''There'll certainly be no despondency and no-one will be giving up the fight. We will go to Anfield in good spirits and see what we get. Obviously we go there as underdogs but we must believe we can get something.''

  After nine games without a goal, underfire striker Michael Owen is desperate to rediscover and help Newcastle avoid the drop.s scoring touchand Owen said his goals can still keep Newcastle up.
  Newcastle have won only one of their last 18 matches in all competitions and unless their form improves dramatically in the last few games they will be in the second tier of English soccer next season for the first time since 1993.

i remember when we met newcastle at st. james, it a was free-flowing, monstrous, unforgiving and beautiful performance from liverpool. i want to see the same so we can put pressure on the scummies.

how will Newcastle win my liverpool.the scores is gonna be 5-0.UP LIVERPOOL

As bgees said.

Nothing less than a good hiding would do for me. Hope Torres scores a hat-trick!

@ Y_love

That team photo is terribly old! From whence did you dig it up?

Seeing players like Diao, Smicer, Josemi, Le tallec, Cisse, Traore and Nunez in that picture says how how the Reds have improved.

2-0 to liverpool! Easy match so far

when men created football God created barca, I pray and I pray that Liverpool wins the league, they deserve it.

eyonigger:

when men created football God created barca, I pray and I pray that Liverpool wins the league, they deserve it.

Amen to that bro

a bit too late. don't you think.

liverpool players were really impressive today,

I just hope Alonso's injury isn't serious.

mykali:

you guys sent N.United to the deepest parts of relegation waterzz. what is Martins still doing there, if he wasnt so greedy he would now be smiling at Arsenal instead of frowning and making his face look more ugly . . .

Why must he play for Arsenal?

Is he going to get more money?

Is it for prestige?

Is it for trophies?

Playing at this frightening level and with such attacking wizardry should see the Reds lift the title next year surely. Its going to be the first time in history a team with just 2 losses all season will miss out on the crown!