Gerrard in Liverpool squad for Madrid

Steven Gerrard has been included in Liverpool’s squad for their Champions League clash with Real Madrid on Wednesday, the English club confirmed on Monday.

The hugely influential club captain underwent a light training session with his team-mates on Monday morning and is set to travel to the Spanish capital, although a decision on whether he starts the first leg of the last-16 tie will be left until the last minute.

“Steven will be in the squad,” manager Rafael Benitez told the club’s website, www.liverpoolfc.tv. “He was okay in training this morning.

“It was a special training session so we were not testing him 100 percent, but he trained okay so we will see.”

Gerrard has been out of action for almost three weeks with a hamstring injury and Benitez decided against risking him in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City.

The draw with City means Liverpool are now seven points adrift of leaders Manchester United in the Premier League, leaving the Champions League as their best chance of silverware this season.

Benitez’s men went out of the FA Cup to Everton on February 4 in the match in which Gerrard suffered his injury.

If the England midfielder does get a green light to play in the Bernabeu, Liverpool should be at full strength with Xabi Alonso also due to return after missing the City match through suspension.