Steve Hunter 24 October 2005 Rafael Benitez says he is hopeful his captain Steven Gerrard will be fit and ready to return against Crystal Palace in the Carling Cup 3rd round tie at Selhurt Park on Tuesday night. Gerrard has missed Liverpool's last three matches Gerrard with a shin injury sustained while on international duty but the Reds boss remains confident he will have his captain back against Palace.
Benitez said: "Gerrard did a full training session on Sunday and came through it fine. I hope he will be fit for the Palace match as he is very important for us."
The Liverpool manager said he will be sending out a strong team at Palace with the only youngsters in his squad being David Raven, Darren Potter and Zak Whitbread.
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Benitez said: "All competitions we want to win and we will have a strong team out at Crystal Palace. We had some bad away games last year and we lost at Palace. We know they play as a team, they are good workers and we know it will be a physical game.
"For us it's the next match and the most important game. As always we go there looking to win the game and get through to the next round."
Jay -- LIVERPOOL FC - KINGS OF EUROPE MANCHE$TER BUCCANEERS & BLUEpooE - KINGS OF COMEDY
