Bring on Zidane, crys Gerrard

Steven Gerrard is hoping to be pitted against £45million Zinedine Zidane, the world's most expensive player, in the next phase of the Champions League.

While most players would want to avoid tournament favourites Real Madrid, England's Gerrard hopes Liverpool are drawn in the same group as the Spanish champions.

After unbeaten Liverpool finished top of Group B Gerrard said: "I know a lot of people would say Real are the last team we want but we fancy ourselves against anyone at the moment."

"I've always said I want to test myself against the best and they don't come any better than Zidane. I missed the England game against France, so this would be the first opportunity to come up against a player I rate one of the best in the world."

"There's no-one better to measure yourself against and I'm bound to learn a lot from simply being on the same pitch as him. He has won the lot - the World Cup, European Championship and World and European Footballer of theYear."

"I remember watching the Champions League last season and wondering what it would be like playing at that level against players of Zidane's calibre. I'm not being cocky or saying I would do this or that against him, but it would just be an unbelievable experience to get out there with him and see him at close quarters."

"We all feel we're ready for a challenge like that and if you're going to go all the way in a competition like this, you've got to face the best sooner or later."

Defender Sami Hyypia has made rapid recovery from the hamstring trouble he suffered against Boavista eight days ago and is ready to reclaim his place against Manchester United on Sunday.