FA CUP: SATURDAY'S TEAM NEWS
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is pondering whether to recall
Jose Reina in goal for the FA Cup fifth-round home tie with
Manchester United or keep faith with Jerzy Dudek.
Dudek has managed two clean sheets in the three matches the
Spaniard has missed through suspension since his dismissal at
Chelsea and will be hopeful of retaining his place for the visit of
United.
Benitez will also want to assess Peter Crouchs fitness after the
£7million striker missed the last two games with a heel
injury.
Robbie Fowler is cup-tied having played and scored in the
tournament for Manchester City this term, which leaves Benitez with
further decisions to make up front. Luis Garcia and Djibril Cisse
are challenging for places in the starting line-up.
There are fitness doubts over defender Daniel Agger, who limped out
of Thursdays reserve derby win over Everton, Stephen Warnock
(groin) and Jan Kromkamp (ankle).
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has reported a clean bill of
health ahead of the trip to Anfield.
Edwin van der Sar and Ryan Giggs, who came off at half-time during
Saturdays win at Portsmouth with groin and hamstring injuries
respectively, have returned to training, while skipper Gary Neville
is also available after missing the trip to Fratton Park.
Fergusons main selection dilemma concerns central midfield where
Giggs could feature, while the United boss could also leave out
Louis Saha even thought the Frenchman has been in free-scoring form
in the FA Cup.
Gary Speed is set to make his first start for Bolton Wanderers in
six weeks when West Ham United visit the Reebok Stadium.
The veteran midfielder returned to action in midweek after a knee
injury by stepping off the bench in the draw against Marseille in
the UEFA Cup.
Hidetoshi Nakata is available again after suspension while Matt
Jansen could come into contention following a knee problem.
West Ham have doubts over midfielder Hayden Mullins and defender
Danny Gabbidon ahead of the trip to Bolton.
Mullins missed training sessions this week because of a back
problem, as did Gabbidon, who has an unspecified complaint.
Goalkeeper Roy Carroll is still absent and may face surgery on a
back problem which could keep him sidelined for up to six
weeks.
Charlton Athletic will be without cup-tied striker Marcus Bent for
the visit of Brentford and winger Dennis Rommedahl remains
sidelined with a rib injury.
Jay Bothroyd or Shaun Bartlett are likely to come into the attack
alongside England squad man Darren Bent.
Matt Holland (thigh) and Chris Perry (virus) are both back in the
squad, but Jonathan Fortune (ribs) is still not match fit.
Midfielder Amady Faye returns to the Newcastle United fold for the
clash with Southampton at St James' Park.
The Senegal international has returned from African Nations Cup
duty and will go straight into the squad for the fifth-round
tie.
Strikers Michael Chopra and Albert Luque are also added to the
squad but full-back Celestine Babayaro begins his two-match
ban.
