Henchoz defends Liverpool

Last season the gap between Manchester United and Liverpool was 19 points and today it is the same, but Stéphane Henchoz insists that the Anfield players are superior to the squad from Old Trafford.

Liverpool have trailed in United's wake for 18 months, having finished second in the Premiership - one place ahead of United - in May 2002. But the Switzerland defender is still defiantly claiming that, man for man, Liverpool have the better players.

Henchoz, who has just returned after injury, strongly believes that Liverpool can perform to an even higher standard than the champions.

Henchoz told the club's LFC Magazine: "I feel that if you were to take each player individually and compare them with Manchester United's, then I'm sorry, I do not think we are any worse than them.

"You should realise that I am talking about players being at the top of their form, because I have seen our players at the top of their form.

"In fact, when each player is on top form I would even go so far as to say we are superior to Manchester United. That is why I do not understand the last season and a half. It is possible that we have not had all 11 players playing at their peak."

Inconsistency and injuries have been a major problem for Liverpool in recent months. However, at least the manager, Gérard Houllier, has been able to welcome back a couple more members of his injury-hit squad this week.

The striker Milan Baros, who had not played since September because of a broken ankle, completed 63 minutes of a reserve game against Newcastle yesterday, while Florent Sinama-Pongolle, who has been out for six games with groin trouble, lasted an hour before coming off with cramp.

Liverpool had Baros, Sinama-Pongolle, Danny Murphy, John Arne Riise, Igor Biscan and Djimi Traoré all playing.

Baros may have put himself in contention for a first-team recall after just one outing, despite Houllier speaking recently of his concern about the Czech's fitness and the likelihood of needing several comeback games.

The chances of Baros featuring in the game at Bolton on Saturday have increased, with Houllier saying: "Milan has been phenomenal in training recently, and he has reminded us of exactly what we have been missing from him for five months. I think he has overcome the psychological aspect of his injury now."

Liverpool have confirmed that their Uefa Cup second-leg match with Levski Sofia on 3 March will be played in Bulgaria's national stadium, which has a capacity of 54,000, and not Levski Sofia's own ground. The kick-off will be at 8.10pm.