Reds handed Smicer boost

The 29-year-old Czech international suffered a knock to his right knee during the Reds 2-1 defeat to Galatasaray in the Amsterdam Tournament last Sunday but Gerard Houllier, who is already without Steven Gerrard, Dietmar Hamann and Steve Finnan for the Premiership opener against Chelsea, expects Smicer to be back in action 'soon'.

Houllier said: "He got a bad knock on his knee but he should be okay soon."