Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, will give Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard every chance to prove their fitness before Manchester United visit Anfield in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.

Gerrard claimed last weekend that the United game would come “too soon” as the midfield player recovers from groin surgery and Torres, the striker, was ruled out initially for up to three weeks after suffering a hamstring tear during the goalless draw away to Aston Villa ten days ago.

“It is difficult to say if they can play because they may have not played for ten or 15 days, but they are working hard and improving, so there's still time to decide,” Benítez said.

Under the Spaniard, Liverpool have lost seven and drawn one of eight Premier League matches against United, scoring only one goal in the process, so the prospect of Gerrard and Torres, their principal attacking threats, missing the game would be significant.

United are expected to hand a debut to Dimitar Berbatov, the Bulgaria striker signed from Tottenham Hotspur for £30.75million last week.

Even without Gerrard and Torres, however, Benítez believes that Liverpool have “enough quality in the squad” to trouble United, a sentiment echoed by Álvaro Arbeloa, the defender, who expects his Spain team-mate, Albert Riera, an £8million signing from Espanyol, to make an immediate impact on his debut. “Fernando and Stevie are probably our best players, but we can beat United without them,” Arbeloa said. “We have Robbie Keane and Albert Riera.”

Spirit of Shankly, the Liverpool Supporters' Union, is to hold a march in protest against Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, the embattled owners. The march will begin at 11am on Saturday, outside the Liverpool Supporters' Club on Lower Breck Road, and finish at Anfield.

Robbie Fowler, the former Liverpool striker, is expected to sign a three-month, pay-as-you-play deal with Blackburn Rovers next week.