Benitez expects Mascherano to be fit against Chelsea

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez expects Javier Mascherano to be back from injury to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The Argentinean midfielder has suffered from a slight hamstring problem and was not fit for the Champions League match against Fiorentina on Tuesday.

"I expect Javier to be fit for the Chelsea game, he will be ready," said Benitez in the Telegraph.

"He was very close to being fit to play in Florence, but he had a slight hamstring problem and could not train in our final session before we left for Italy on Monday, so he could not be risked."

Danish defender Daniel Agger could also be available after playing an hour of the reserves' 2-0 win against Manchester City on Tuesday, his first game of the season after a knee operation.