It is safe to assume that 2008 could not have finished on a lower note for Steven Gerrard, but the Liverpool captain will get the chance this evening to put an end to one of the most troubled weeks of his life by leading his side to an FA Cup third-round victory away to Preston North End in their first game of 2009.

Having weighed up Gerrard's state of mind, Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, has granted the midfield player his wish to play at Deepdale, 18 miles from Southport police station, where Gerrard spent most of Monday before being charged with assault and affray after an alleged incident at a bar.

“He wants to play,” Benítez, speaking at his first press conference since undergoing surgery to remove kidney stones, said yesterday. “He was involved in a situation that was not normal. It was a surprise.

“But after talking with him, he's been training normally. Because he is a professional, he will be thinking about football.”

Dirk Kuyt, the Holland forward, and José Manuel Reina, the Spain goalkeeper, are expected to be rested for the third-round tie but Benítez claimed that he had always intended to play Gerrard against Preston. The 28-year-old has sufficient experience to know that his arrest will make him a target for taunts from some of the Preston supporters. Yet, he will also be aware that a rousing reception awaits him from Liverpool's 5,100 travelling fans in the 23,000 sell-out crowd.

Although Benítez is keen to concentrate on footballing matters after a dramatic few days at Anfield, the Barclays Premier League leaders will again have to cope without their manager being at pitch side.

The Spaniard will watch his team from a seat in the directors' box at Deepdale as he recovers from the surgery he had last month, although he is keen to be able to get closer to the action. “I will need time. The first week was very painful, but I'm improving,” Benítez said. “I cannot move or shout as normal. I'll stay in the stands for now.

“I prefer to be on the bench. You can see the game more clearly from there. When you go to the stands it's different.”

With Fernando Torres and Martin Skrtel expected to feature at some stage against Preston after lengthy injuries, Benítez does not envisage conducting significant business during the transfer window. “If we need something then we'll try, but we're in a good situation,” the Spaniard said. “January is difficult because if you bring in players they need time to settle.”

One player heading to Anfield is Victor Palsson, the Icelandic midfield player. The 18-year-old, who has represented his country at under-17 and under-18 levels, will move from Danish club Aarhus for a fee of about £300,000.