Gerrard and Lampard to face each other at Anfield

England team mates Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard should return to their respective midfield roles when Liverpool face Chelsea in Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg at Anfield.

Lampard will rejoin Chelsea after missing the last two matches against Wigan Athletic and Everton because his mother was taken ill. Gerrard is also expected to return to the Liverpool team after missing Saturday's Premier League match at Fulham with a neck injury.

Chelsea also hope that striker Didier Drogba and midfielder Michael Ballack will be available after being sidelined with knee and hamstring injuries. Drogba has also missed Chelsea's last two matches while Ballack missed the game at Everton last Thursday. A statement issued on Lampard's behalf by his agent Steve Kutner read: "(He) has made himself available for tomorrow night's Champions League match at Liverpool after spending the last seven days at the bedside of his sick mother. "Although still very ill, her condition has now stabilised. Hopefully there is light at the end of a very dark tunnel."

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez told the club's Web site (www.liverpoolfc.tv) that he was optimistic Gerrard would be fit to play. "The other day, he wanted to play but he was only able to look to the right, so I told him he could play as a left winger. "We'll see if he can turn his head round and look the other way now. We will talk together, with the doctor.

"There's an easy way of finding out whether he's fit. I will come up and tap him on the left shoulder and if he turns to face me without any pain, we will know he can play."