Champions League winners Liverpool take on Uefa Cup winners CSKA Moscow tonight in the European Super Cup in Monaco.
Liverpool have already won the competition twice in 1977 and 2001, whilst CSKA will be making their first appearance in the Super Cup at The Stade Louis II.
Liverpool are likely to be without captain Steven Gerrard, who is struggling with a calf injury he picked up last weekend. Peter Crouch is still out with a hamstring injury and is joined by Djimi Traore and Zak Whitbread on the sidelines.
Manager Rafa Benitez is expected to start with Xabi Alonso and partner Momo Sissoko in midfield. Harry Kewell is back in the Liverpool squad but the Australian is likely to start on the bench.
Benitez us taking tonight’s game seriously as he looks to add to his Anfield trophy haul.
“This is a trophy I value. For a big club like Liverpool, every trophy should be valuable,” he said.
“That’s why we’re in football, to win competitions.
“History remembers champions and trophy winners. For us, this could be our second trophy in a short space of time and that’s what you are remembered for.”
CSKA are the first Russian club to take part in the Super Cup but they will be without Croatian Ivica Olic after he sustained a knee injury. Sergei Samodin is set to replace Olic in and partner Brazilian Wagner Love.
