Gerrard leads the fight for Houllier

STEVEN GERRARD will make his ninth successive appearance this season as Liverpool-prepare for their Champions-League opener against Spanish league leaders Valencia tonight.

For the England midfielder to produce such a run would have been unheard of last season and manager Gerard Houllier realises how influential the 22-year-old has become.

Gerrard has played in all of Liverpool's games, including the Community Shield, and also figured for England in their friendly against Portugal.

Now, after a summer off and a groin operation, he looks the key to this Group B clash in Spain.

Houllier said: "The more he is injury free, the more he plays and the better he becomes.

"He made the right decision not to go to the World Cup and have the operation. He has improved since the start of the season and has built up from there. He's vital to us and his appetite for success is faultless."

Houllier has an embarrassment of riches to chose from tonight, with only Vladimir Smicer and Abel Xavier missing through injury and illness.

The impressive roles Milan Baros, Bruno Cheyrou and Salif Diao played in their win at Bolton on Saturday have underlined Houllier's belief in rotating his players.

He said: "I rotated the players at the weekend - some people even used the word 'axed' which I find amusing - and brought in three of our new lads and they did very well.

"Some of our players, we knew after the World Cup, were tired and we had to manage their energy. Some needed a rest."

WEST HAM defender Tomas Repka is not as badly hurt as feared. The Czech international was injured early on in Sunday's defeat at Tottenham but an X-ray has revealed only bad bruising to his leg. He could be available for Saturday's home game against Manchester City.

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