Uefa Champions League final: Rafael Benitez has experimented by employing Harry Kewell as an auxiliary striker behind Djibril Cisse in training sessions as he attempts to finalise his starting line-up for tomorrow's Champions League final against Milan.

The Liverpool manager conducted his last coaching session at Melwood yesterday before the trip to Turkey and has explored the possibility of using Kewell and Cisse as an alternative to selecting Steven Gerrard in an advanced midfield role.

Liverpool will train at the Ataturk Stadium for the first time this afternoon as Benitez hones his game plan to defeat the Italian side. The Spaniard will reveal to his squad who is to start the final only on the day of the game, and Kewell's selection would constitute a major surprise. The Australian has missed much of this season through Achilles and groin injuries, and his form was far from spectacular even before he succumbed to those strains.

Benitez usually favours a more cautious approach and Gerrard's inclusion as an attacking midfielder is more likely. That would see Dietmar Hamann playing alongside Xabi Alonso in the centre, a combination which worked well against Chelsea in the semi-final second leg at Anfield. The manager must also choose between Milan Baros and Cisse, who scored a brace against Aston Villa on the last day of the Premiership season in what was his first start after eight months recovering from a broken leg.

The former Liverpool striker Michael Owen, now at Real Madrid, will be supporting his former side from a distance tomorrow night. More surprisingly he revealed Liverpool are the most popular side in the Real dressingroom.

"I'll be supporting Liverpool just like every other person in Britain, I hope," Owen said. "Obviously there will be a few Everton and Manchester United fans who might not be so supportive.

"Liverpool are definitely the most supported team among the Real Madrid players; they've got a lot of mates there and a fellow countryman manages the team and a lot of the coaches are Spanish.

Owen reserved special praise for his friend Jamie Carragher, who faces the unenviable task of handling Andriy Shevchenko. "Carra's been fantastic this year," he said. "It has taken a couple of unbelievable performances for people to stand up and take note. Shevchenko is one of the best strikers in the world but I'm sure my mate can put another good performance in."

Milan's head coach Carlo Ancelotti has warned Liverpool his side's greater experience of coping with the pressures generated by the Champions League final should prove decisive.

Ancelotti steered the Milanese to victory on penalties against Juventus at Old Trafford two years ago, after a goalless draw. The Italians' full-back Paolo Maldini will be featuring in his seventh European Cup final, while Clarence Seedorf has already won the trophy with Ajax, Real Madrid and Milan. Indeed, of Milan's likely starting line-up tomorrow, seven took part in the 2003 final.

"I think that experience will count for a lot in this game," admitted Ancelotti. "If you have players with lots of experience they know how to deal with the pressures and anxieties these games bring. Experienced players are normally a lot more relaxed on the night before a final."

In contrast, Liverpool will not feature a single Champions League winner at the Ataturk Stadium with Fernando Morientes, who won the trophy three times with Real Madrid, cup-tied in Europe unable to play.

Dietmar Hamann admitted yesterday Milan's experience was "a big advantage for them", though Benitez was quick to dispel any doubts surfacing in his players' minds.

"As a player going into an important game, you must never be afraid," said Benitez. "If any player goes on to the pitch on Wednesday thinking we will lose, that is what will happen. We know we are not favourites going into the match, but we are in the final because we deserve to be. We must go into this game with confidence and every player must believe we can win. Anything is possible."

Meanwhile, Republic of Ireland under-21 international winger Richie Partridge was yesterday released by Liverpool.

Guardian Service