Kewell fronts up on return

Harry Kewell will be asked to solve Liverpool's attacking problems by playing his first game for two months against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League tonight.

Djibril Cisse and Florent Sinama-Pongolle are injured while Fernando Morientes is Cup-tied, leaving Milan Baros as the only recognised frontline striker in the squad for the first leg at Anfield.

Kewell has been plagued by an Achilles injury since his last match on 19 December.

However, manager Rafael Benitez said: "Harry is fit and I think he will play. He can play well because he is a key man for us and is a fantastic player. We need to see the best of Harry."

Steven Gerrard misses the game through suspension but Benitez insists his team will be able to cope without their inspirational captain.

"We know Steven is very important for us," said Benitez. "I think we have solutions and we have a good team tonight."

The Germans have selection problems of their own. Defender Jens Nowotny is out with a knee problem and, with Brazilian Roque Junior also missing, Leverkusen may have to use 20-year-old Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker in defence.