Benitez puts faith in Cissé as Baros is sidelined for Milan game

Liverpool will put their faith in the "miracle" recovery of the French striker Djibril Cissé when they attempt to become champions of Europe for the fifth time , here against Milan tomorrow.

Liverpool will put their faith in the "miracle" recovery of the French striker Djibril Cissé when they attempt to become champions of Europe for the fifth time , here against Milan tomorrow.

That was the word from the Liverpool party as it flew in last night on the last leg of a campaign which many would say is as miraculous as the recovery of Cissé from a broken leg.

A source close to the Anfield inner circle said that the coach, Rafael Benitez, had been amazed by the recovery of Cissé, and his powerful running is reckoned to be a more potent weapon than Milan Baros, who has mostly misfired since his brilliant run in last summer's European Championships.

Benitez seems certain to go with the 4-5-1 formation which has stunned Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus and Chelsea. Dietmar Hamann's shrewd reading of a game is expected to give him the nod ahead of Igor Biscan

The Spanish referee, Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez, will take charge of the final. The Spaniard handled Milan's 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in this season's Champions' League.

The only sour note for Liverpool is that they are unlikely to add Owen Hargreaves to their squad for next season as he will not be leaving Bayern Munich, the club's general manager, Uli Hoeness, said yesterday.

Liverpool (probable): Dudek; Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traoré; Luis Garcia, Alonso, Gerrard, Hamman, Riise; Cissé.