Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has said that he will not rush captain Steven Gerrard back into first-team action.

The midfielder, who has been hampered with ankle and groin injuries this season, made only his sixth appearance of the campaign when he came off the bench against Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day.

"We will manage it as professionally as we did before," said Dalglish.

"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 the last time and we'll do the same this time."

The Merseyside club, who are currently sixth in the Premier League table, host Newcastle United on Friday night.