Liverpool’s domestic and European hopes have been boosted by the return from injury of German midfielder Dietmar Hamann.

Liverpool face Chelsea in the second leg of their semi-final at Anfield on Tuesday without influential midfielder Xabi Alonso, but Liverpool now have Hamann to take his place.

“Didi is fit and he will be in the squad for the Middlesbrough game on Saturday,” Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez confirmed.

“His knee was a problem but he has recovered from that now. While he may not be 100 per cent physically, his knee is okay.

“He may not start against Middlesbrough but there is a possibility he may play a part.”

Hamann has not played since Liverpool’s victory over Premiership rivals Everton on March 20.

Liverpool currently have 54 points, four behind Everton having played a game more and with just three matches to play. With a place in next season’s Champions League at stake, Benitez remains confident his team can overtake their Merseyside rivals.

“We are confident,” he said. “We need to win four points more than Everton and the first thing to do is win our next game.

“We can’t think we need to win nine points in total. I don’t want to be thinking about numbers all the time.”