Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is hopeful Steven Gerrard will be fit to face Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday, as Liverpool look to put another frustrating league result behind them after being held scoreless by Fulham.
The Reds missed the chance to go three points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League at the weekend after failing to break down the resilient Cottagers at Anfield.
Captain Gerrard is expected to return against the French club after failing to recover fully from the groin injury which also kept him out of England's victory over Germany in Berlin last week.
Benitez hopes the midfielder can quickly strike up the partnership with Fernando Torres which was so successful last season when the pair scoring more than 50 goals between them.
Injuries to both players have prevented that combination blossoming again this campaign but the Liverpool boss believes it is only a matter of time before they click.
"Last season it was clear to see that the understanding between Torres and Gerrard was really good and there have been signs this year that it is getting better," Benitez told the club's website, liverpoolfc.tv.
"Torres is back again after being injured and we hope that Gerrard will be fit enough to face Marseille.
"As a manager I don't like to single out players but Gerrard and Torres have scored something like 54 goals between them since they began playing together, so it is clear that they are both very important to us."
Benitez insists the squad have no time to dwell on lost opportunities. A victory over the French visitors - shock 1-0 winners on Merseyside last season - would secure a place in the knockout stage with one Group D match still to play.
They would even go through with a draw on Wednesday if PSV Eindhoven fail to beat Atletico Madrid on the same night.
"We are disappointed about Saturday but we cannot talk about past games now," said Benitez. "We have to think about making mistakes and analyse why and find solutions for the next game.
"We are frustrated, really frustrated. How can we change that now? We have to analyse and talk to the players about the mistakes and try to change for the next game."
Defender Jamie Carragher admitted the players have to accept they will encounter some frustrating times at home but they have to learn how to deal with them and ensure it does not have a knock-on effect.
"Pretty much every team that comes to Anfield plays counter-attacking football and we can't complain about that, especially as we've done the same thing in many big away games in Europe," he told the Liverpool Echo.
"We've just got to adapt to it and overcome it because if we want to challenge for the title that is something we're going to have to do."
