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Gerrard set for more bench time against Newcastle

Steven Gerrard looks set for another day on the Liverpool bench when the Reds face Newcastle © Getty Images

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Kenny Dalglish has hinted that Steven Gerrard will once again be on the bench for Liverpool's forthcoming clash with Newcastle, after the skipper returned to action against Blackburn.

Gerrard's season has been ruined by injury and infection, but he put that behind him to play 21 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Rovers at Anfield. The England midfielder looked in good shape too, creating several chances for his team-mates during his time on the pitch.

Next up for Liverpool are Newcastle, who sit just one point beneath the Reds in the chase for a top four spot. The temptation is there for Dalglish to throw his talisman back into the starting line-up, but earlier in the season the Scot gave Gerrard three substitute appearances before handing him a start, and it seems a similar tactic may be employed again.

"Steven was back to full fitness before he got a freak injury and that's why he had to recover again, but the two of them weren't related and he is back and looks even better than he did the last time he came back," Dalglish said on Wednesday.

"But we are not going to be irresponsible and throw him in and take a chance. We know he's fit and we know he just needs game time in the same way as we monitored him through last time and we'll do the same this time.

"He looks superb at the moment."

Liverpool were not punished as heavily as they should have been for their 1-1 draw at home to the league's bottom club, with top-four rivals Chelsea and Arsenal also failing to win what appeared to be comfortable home matches on paper.

Dalglish predicts the return of Gerrard will be a major factor in the Reds' European push over the second half of the season.

"We have got three captains in the dressing room in Stevie, Carra [Jamie Carragher] and Pepe [Reina] so we've always said it's best to have your strongest players, your best players, fit and around the squad, so we've got the three captains in there now and it must make us better and stronger," the Liverpool boss said.

"Given a bit of luck in front of goal I think it will make us a lot stronger on the pitch as well."

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