Rafael Benitez still has faith in squad as he bids to stop the rot

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The manager will have Steven Gerrard back from a groin problem against the Group E leaders at Anfield but is still missing striker Fernando Torres with a similar injury.

Benitez maintains Liverpool can cope without one or both of their two best players but he also knows another defeat tonight will heighten the Reds' problems.

Benitez said: "We have been criticised but I am happy with the squad. The vast majority of them were here last season when we won 86 points, very little has changed.

"People say we cannot play without Gerrard and Torres. I was not worried at the weekend, even though we lost at Sunderland when we were without both of them, so now with one back it is even less of a problem.

"Lyon are a good team and it will be tough for us but we would prefer not to think about defeat but be positive.It is better to say that both will progress from this group."

Benitez added: "The trouble is not that we lack depth and quality. We must manage with the situation we have, which is made more difficult with several players out injured.

"We worked hard in the summer to keep the players we wanted and to add to that. But the troubles have arisen because of the amount of injuries to key players."

Fit-again defender Daniel Agger has vowed Liverpool will get things right. "Confidence is still there, we know we are a good team and we just need to show it on the pitch," he said.

* Liverpool v Lyon, 7.45pm, SS2