Benitez may move Gerrard again

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has suggested Steven Gerrard may move position once again.

The England midfielder was dropped back to a deeper position against Sunderland on Sunday and responded with an improved personal display in the 3-0 win.

Gerrard was particularly influential in the first half of that match, his penetrative runs causing problems for the Sunderland defence.

Benitez has regularly fielded Gerrard behind striker Ferando Torres this season.

For a long time critics have been urging Benitez to deploy Gerrard in what they feel is his best position but the manager said the overall game plan was more important.

"He can play everywhere because he knows what to do in every position.
"He was keen to do the best for the team and the best for the team the other day was for him to play in this role with Javier Mascherano.
"For me it is not the player and the system but altogether.
"In the last year with the same system we were quite offensive and this year we have scored a lot of goals, especially at Anfield, with the same system.
"It has been Lucas-Mascherano, Lucas-Aquilani, Lucas-Gerrard, Mascherano-Aquilani - we can mix and match.
"It gives us more options."

Meanwhile, Aquilani has been ruled out of the Europa League quarter-final first-leg with Benfica.

The Italy international sustained an ankle injury in training on Wednesday and will not fly out with the squad to Lisbon