Steven Gerrard will play against Preston in the FA Cup third round tomorrow, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez confirmed.

Steven Gerrard will play against Preston in the FA Cup third round tomorrow, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez confirmed today.

The Reds skipper was this week charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray following an alleged incident at a Southport nightclub.

But the Liverpool boss has made it clear that Gerrard "will play in the match - he is ready and is a great professional and it is best for him to be focussed on football".

Liverpool will also have striker Fernando Torres back for the first time following a lengthy hamstring injury.

Gerrard faces a maximum five-year jail term if convicted after being accused of assaulting businessman and part-time DJ Marcus McGee, 34, who was injured during a fight at the Lounge Inn in the early hours of Monday.

The 28-year-old will attend North Sefton Magistrates' Court in Southport on January 23 but has been given the full backing of his club and the Professional Footballers' Association.

Gerrard had been drinking in the bar on Sunday evening with friends to mark Liverpool's 5-1 win over Newcastle United.

But trouble apparently flared in the early hours and the star was arrested with five other men.

He was charged with John Doran, 29, and Ian Gerard Smith, 19, both of Huyton, where Gerrard grew up.

Mr McGee allegedly lost a tooth in the nightclub fight and needed several stitches to a face wound.