LONDON (AP):

Steven Gerrard's top-quality performances have pushed Liverpool within sight of a first English league title since 1990. However, now that his star player faces criminal charges stemming from a brawl at a nightclub, manager Rafa Benitez has to decide whether to take the heat off the Reds captain by leaving him out of tomorrow's FA Cup game at Preston.

The top clubs usually rest their leading stars for the early round of the cup competitions, especially when they face clubs from the lower divisions. While Liverpool face a team from the second-tier League Championship, Benitez's problem is that he does not want to disrupt Liverpool's impressive form by making too many changes.

He also knows that Gerrard likely will get plenty of abuse from the home fans at Preston's Deepdale, whereas he would get a more supportive reception from his own followers at Anfield.

By fielding him against Preston, however, Benitez would help Gerrard take his mind off the assault and affray charges he faces, which could lead to a jail sentence of up to five years. The England midfielder is on police bail and is due to appear in court January 23, and Liverpool fans fear the criminal proceedings might affect Gerrard's form at a time when the club is top of the Premier League.

Worked hard

"We've worked very hard to get into the position we're in going through to the new year and all of us are determined to keep that progress going," said Benitez, who had talks with Gerrard when the player arrived for training on Wednesday after 20 hours in police custody.

Hours before his arrest, Gerrard scored twice in Liverpool's 5-1 victory at Newcastle on Sunday. He was out celebrating with friends at the Lounge Inn nightclub when violence broke out and the bar's 34-year-old disc jockey, Marcus McGee, was hospitalised after losing a tooth and cutting his forehead.

Even without Gerrard, Benitez should be able to field a line-up capable of easily beating Preston, which has not been in the top flight of English football since 1961 and last won the FA Cup in 1938.

The leading contenders stayed apart in the third-round draw and none of the traditional top four face opponents from the Premier League.

Manchester United, the record 11-time FA Cup winners, go to League Championship club Southampton on Sunday. Chelsea host Southend from League One tomorrow and Arsenal welcome another Championship club, Plymouth.

The only matchups to involve two Premier League clubs are Tottenham-Wigan today and Hull-Newcastle and Sunderland-Bolton tomorrow. Defending champions Portsmouth beat five Championship sides on to the way to the title last season, including Cardiff in the final, and beginstheir defence at home to another, Bristol City.