Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish says Steven Gerrard appears in great shape for 2012.

Gerrard returned as a second half substitute during the Boxing Day draw with Blackburn Rovers, and the boss said he will ease him back into the team.

He told liverpoolfc.tv: "Steven was back to full fitness before he got a freak injury and that's why he had to recover again, but the two of them weren't related and he is back and looks even better than he did the last time he came back.

"But we are not going to be irresponsible and throw him in and take a chance. We know he's fit and we know he just needs game time in the same way as we monitored him through last time and we'll do the same this time.

"He looks superb at the moment."