Brendan Rodgers has spoken about the importance of Steven Gerrard's return ahead of their trip to Wembley, insisting the 34-year-old's "special quality" could prove the difference.
Gerrard has spent the last three games out through suspension, but returns in time to play his part against Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.
Rodgers would not reveal whether he was planning to hand the Liverpool skipper a starting spot in his team, but he hinted that the experienced midfielder will certainly feature at some point.
"He’s definitely ready," the Northern Irishman told reporters in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.
"We played a behind closed-doors game here on Monday and Steven played in that. He’s fine. The most important think is his availability.
"He’s a special footballer and Wembley is somewhere he knows very well.
"Whether he plays or doesn’t play, he will be a very important member of the squad for us on the day.
"He’s still an incredible player. In the big games he has produced big goals at big moments. He always makes a great contribution to the team.
"The most important thing is having him back. He knows Wembley very well and he has special quality."
Martin Skrtel will also return from a three-game suspension to feature against Villa, and is almost certain to walk back into the starting team.
The Slovakian centre-back will provide a boost to Liverpool's defensive options with Mamadou Sakho out through injury.
"He’s very important," Rodgers said of the 30-year-old. "He’s been outstanding this season, whether he’s played in a back four or a back three.
"In the last couple of years he has really come to the fore. He looks fit and strong.
"He’s very well liked and respected here. He had a tough time in my first six months here. He was having to adapt to a new way of working and playing.
"He didn’t complain or moan, we sat in the office and spoke about the areas he needed to improve on. He took that on to the training field and worked his way back in.
"Since then he’s stayed in the team. He’s a strong character and a great player to have in the dressing room."
Sunday represents Rodgers' biggest opportunity yet to win his first piece of silverware as Liverpool manager.
The Northern Irishman has been at the helm for three years, but has only his 2011 Championship play-off final win with Swansea City on his resume so far.
But that convincing win over Reading at Wembley proved the spur that saw Rodgers impress as Swans' boss in the Premier League, and the 42-year-old insists that day will never be beaten.
"I’d only been a manager a short time, but certainly being there with Swansea was a special game and a game I will always say will be my biggest game," he said.
"It’s a life-changing game, the play-off final. Of course there are more prestigious games in football and as you progress up the ladder, there are more significant games in terms of trophies – but the play-off final in terms of career, life and where it projects you to is a big game.
"There’s a long list of managers here who have been very successful in different eras.
"Hopefully I’ll be judged during my time here that we’ve worked well. Part of that will be having won trophies.
"But it’s one game at a time. We have to get over a very difficult game against Aston Villa before we can even think about that.
"To win a trophy here at Liverpool is something that’s very important – that’s why we’re here.
"No matter what era you’re in, you’ll always be judged here at Liverpool on trophies. We’ve made steps over the last couple of years and we want to continue making those by winning trophies.
"That was the biggest game for me, Swansea City in the play-off final and it always will be. It’s not about pipping that. It would be the same if we ever got to the Champions League final. That game for me and my career will always be the biggest one,
"This one is different circumstances. This is something we want to do for the supporters. It’s an incredible support we get here and we want to send them home happy on Sunday having arrived in another final."