Standard Liege 0 - 0 Liverpool

Standard Liege v Liverpool: Preview

Updated: August 12, 2008, 7:31 PM UK

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes skipper Steven Gerrard has a good chance of being fit for the Champions League third qualifying round, first leg at Belgian champions Standard Liege.

Gerrard trained with the squad on Tuesday night at Liege's stadium and a decision on the England midfielder's recovery from a thigh injury will be made closer to kick-off.

But Benitez has travelled to Belgium without Irish full-back Steve Finnan, who is believed to have had a disagreement with the Anfield boss over attempts to sell him.

However, Benitez claims Finnan is not fully fit after an injury and operation in the summer.

He also confirmed midfielder Xabi Alonso will play, even if it means the Spaniard will then be cup-tied in the competition and worth a lot less than the fee Liverpool may want for him.

Benitez has declared himself "completely calm'' as he approaches the crucial qualifier.

He is still privately furious the club's American owners have all-but vetoed his £18million move for Gareth Barry.

When Benitez returns home from this match, and before the Barclays Premier League starts for his team on Saturday at Sunderland, he will try again to resurrect the Barry deal.

By then Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill could have cup-tied Barry in Europe by playing him in the UEFA Cup against FH Hafnarfjardar from Iceland.

That should finish the deal for good but Benitez is a stubborn man and anything is still possible.

Benitez has refused to be drawn on the situation, or a host of possible deals he could be doing in the next fortnight before the transfer window shuts.

Asked whether he had made any contact with owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to discuss the current crisis, Benitez would only say: "I am not thinking about signing players at the moment because they cannot play against Liege. I am only concentrating on this game.

"I have not needed to contact the owners because they cannot help with the preparation for this match. I prefer not to say anything else.''

His mood was remarkably serene considering the embarrassment of how the owners put the block on the Barry deal and he said: "I was really calm last week and I am concentrating on the game. We did not have big problems.

"I have not been distracted, I have been focusing on this game and getting to the Champions League group stages.''

The bottom line is that if you are going to launch a war with your bosses again, you have to win in Europe.

Liverpool's financial position is worrying and they need a run in the group stages desperately to bring in the guaranteed millions which the Champions League affords its clubs.

Benitez, aware of the financial implications for Rangers following their Champions League exit to FBK Kaunas last week, said: "I always have confidence in my players but when you play against anyone in Europe you have to be very careful.

"We know Standard are a good team, especially at home.

"It is not just English clubs that should worry about making mistakes against smaller teams. Every club must be aware of the quality of your opponents.

"You must be really focused for every game, you cannot change things once you have made a mistake.

"My aim is to win here to make sure we progress. Since I have been at Liverpool we have always known how important it is to qualify for the group stages.

"We always have known. And we must make sure that we do qualify for the next stage.

"There is no more pressure than in previous seasons, we all know how important it is to get past this qualifying round.

"Everyone knows how important the Champions League is for us, we must play well.''

Standard coach Laszlo Boloni admitted he swore in frustration when the draw paired his side with the English outfit.

This will be Boloni's first major match since taking over the club in the summer, replacing Michel Preud'homme who has moved to Gent.

Boloni has taken over a club who have just won the Belgian league for the first time in 25 years, and now they find themselves facing the might of Liverpool.

He said: "I must admit I was stunned by the draw. It is very, very tough.

"It could hardly be more difficult for us, and to get a draw like this after waiting so long to play in the Champions League just left me speechless, well almost.''

Boloni added: "We respect Liverpool greatly, it will take a lot for us to beat them. They are a great side with great players, and we have a very slim chance.''

Boloni will include last season's top scorer Dieumerci Mbokani, despite the Congo striker having missed much of this week's training after returning home following the death of his father.

But it is highly unlikely that Serbian striker Milan Jovanovic will be in the side.