Rafael Benitez

Javier Mascherano and Steve Finnan are both out of Liverpool's home Barclays Premier League clash with Newcastle on Saturday.

Mascherano has a muscle injury picked up in Wednesday's 4-0 win over West Ham, while Finnan is still struggling with a hamstring problem.

Mascherano is expected to be fit for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Inter Milan, but there is a greater doubt over Finnan.

Lucas is expected to come into midfield to replace Mascherano.

Daniel Agger is continuing his comeback from a metatarsal injury while Andriy Voronin is now back in training after an ankle problem, but neither are expected to figure.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has stressed to his players the importance of maintaining their vastly-improved form over the coming weeks.

The Anfield boss is rightly happy with a dramatic change in fortunes which has seen the team emerge from frustrating inconsistency to win four of their five unbeaten league matches since losing at West Ham in January.

Fernando Torres' third hat-trick of the season helped the side to a 4-0 victory over the Hammers on Wednesday to put Liverpool back into fourth spot in the Barclays Premier League but with competition so tight Benitez knows the club's revival must be maintained.

"We have been growing in confidence and the whole side believes that Fernando Torres is in the sort of form that will produce us goals,' said the Spaniard.

"But now we must take this on. Winning three games on the trot has helped our quest for fourth place, but we must now beat Newcastle before we turn our attention to the Champions League at Inter Milan next week.'

	Kevin Keegan

Liverpool legend Kevin Keegan brings his relegation-threatened Newcastle to Anfield still without a win after seven matches since his return to St James' Park as manager.

Keegan - who joined Liverpool in 1971 as a £33,000 signing from Scunthorpe by Bill Shankly - can be assured of a great welcome from the Kop but that is where the sympathy will end.

Few will ever forget the two famous clashes between the clubs in 1996 and 1997 which both ended in 4-3 wins for Liverpool and remain timeless classics.

But Keegan's side were title contenders then and the fear is there could be plenty more goals on Saturday with Liverpool on a roll - although no-one is expecting the visitors to score three times on this occasion.

Newcastle's only Premier League win at Anfield came in 1994 on Keegan's first visit as Magpies manager. They have not won in 13 visits since and, considering their current form, it will be a major shock if they reverse that trend.

Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton is unavailable for the game and Keegan is also without the injured trio of Mark Viduka, Emre and Stephen Carr.

Shay Given is in Belgium seeing a groin specialist but Nicky Butt, who limped off against Blackburn last weekend, has been declared fit.

Michael Owen makes a sentimental return to Anfield with his Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan backing him to make it a successful visit.

The clash is only the second time the Newcastle United striker will have run out at Anfield since he left Liverpool for Real Madrid in the summer of 2004.

And his first return on Boxing Day 2005 proved a massive disappointment as Owen never had a sniff as the Reds ran out comfortable 2-0 winners.

However Keegan, himself a returning Liverpool legend, says: "I don't think Michael will need an extra incentive. He's been outstanding in training and matches since I've been here - his work-rate has been terrific.

"When we weren't creating anything he was scoring goals despite that, and against Blackburn last Saturday, when we created chances but he didn't score, he came into the dressing room and apologised.

"He will be up for it. I know what it's like going back to play there. It's a wonderful experience going back to a former club, made even more wonderful when you get something.'

Keegan himself is going back to Liverpool as Newcastle manager for the time since pictures were beamed around the world of him and Terry McDermott slumped over the hoardings after Stan Collymore's last-gasp winner for Liverpool in April 1996.

But Keegan is still the last United boss to beat Liverpool on their own ground in the Premier League, even if it was 14 years ago.

And Keegan wants some of that spirit from 1994 to rub off on his side tomorrow, with the Magpies still looking for their first league win since they came away from Fulham with the three points in the middle of December.

The United boss: "If you go to Anfield expecting to get nothing that is exactly what you will get.

"That's why we will roll up there expecting to come home with something and we are going to have a go and make sure we give them a good game. And don't forget we are going there after we all thought was a very encouraging performance if not result against Blackburn Rovers last Saturday.

"Yes Liverpool has a strong squad but when haven't they?'