Fit-again winger Harry Kewell insists Liverpool have destroyed the myth that they lean too heavily on Steven Gerrard.

The Australian wideman made his return to the first team in Liverpool's impressive victory over German giants Bayer Leverkusen, a match which suspended captain Gerrard had to watch from the stands.

Kewell was back in action after recent groin and Achilles problems and lasted 77 minutes, proving his match fitness and putting himself in line to start against Chelsea in Sunday's Carling Cup final.

Much of the pre-game focus had centred on how Liverpool would cope without Gerrard, but they hardly missed his presence as Igor Biscan took on his central midfield role and laid on the opening goal in a 3-1 win for Luis Garcia.

"Obviously Steven Gerrard is a great player, but whether he is playing or not, the rest of the team always go out confident they can do a good job," said Kewell.

"Sometimes it doesn't come off, sometimes it does, but that doesn't mean we do not know what to do and we always give 110 per cent.

"People keep saying we are a one-man team, but they can have their own opinions about Liverpool at the moment, we don't really care about what people say. We know what we can do.

"We proved it against Leverkusen, now we hope we can get that momentum going and continue it that way."

Liverpool have had to cope with a growing injury list this season, denying them the international class of Djibril Cisse and Xabi Alonso and, in the Frenchman's case, for the rest of the campaign. Fernando Morientes was also cup-tied.

Kewell added: "Obviously if you take out world-class players from any team it is a problem if they are not there.

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