Reds duo ruled out of Florence trip

Javier Mascherano and Yossi Benayoun will both miss Liverpool’s Champions League Group E clash with Fiorentina in Florence on Tuesday night.

Midfielder Mascherano, who only came on as a late substitute for Steven Gerrard in Saturday’s 6-1 hammering of Hull, is suffering from sickness, while Benayoun picked up a leg injury in the same match. Neither were included in the Reds squad that flew to Italy on Monday.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez may well have opted for a more cautious approach against Fiorentina had Mascherano been available, but it is now likely that that winger Albert Riera will stay in the side.

Youngster Martin Kelly is unavailable due to England Under-20 commitments.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Torres, Cavalieri, Aurelio, Dossena, Agger, Plessis, Voronin, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Riera, Spearing.