Benitez holds firm on rotation policy
Rafael Benitez is sticking by his selction policy
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Wednesday, 26, Sep 2007 10:56
Rafa Benitez has insisted that none of his players are guaranteed a first-team start, despite Fernando Torres' hat-trick last night.
The Reds' record signing has been on the bench for the last two league games but grasped his chance last night with three well-taken goals as Liverpool beat Reading 4-2 in the Carling Cup fourth round.
Torres, a £26.5 million summer signing from Atletico Madrid, became an instant hero with Reds fans with his second-half treble yesterday evening, but boss Benitez is not prepared to say if he will start against Wigan at the weekend.
"Will he start the next game? We will see," Benitez said when asked about the Spanish international after the game.
"I cannot guarantee anything because I like to see my strikers during the week. We have four strikers and if I say now that he will play, it will be easy for Wigan."
As well as Torres, Benitez also has Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt, England's Peter Crouch and fellow new arrival Andriy Voronin of Ukraine at his disposal, making competition up front tight.
Benitez has come in for criticism in the media and among some supporters for his tinkering approach, but he has again defended the way he picks his teams.
"I am only thinking about my team. Our supporters are very clever, they know that I am trying to do the best for the team," the Spaniard continued.
"Fernando knows why he was left out. It was because of space. I didn't need to explain it too much. All the players want to play in every game."
Liverpool remain unbeaten this season but have drawn three of their six Premier League games as well as limping to a 1-1 draw away to Porto in their first Champions League group match.
Torres was the hero for the Reds last night as his first treble for the club secured a place in the fourth round of the Carling Cup, but Benitez wouldn't confirm whether the performance of his record signing will assure him of a place at the JJB Stadium.
"Will he start the next game? We will see. I cannot guarantee anything because I like to see my strikers during the week," said the manager. "We have four strikers and if I say now that he will play, it will be easy for Wigan.
"I am only thinking about my team. Our supporters are very clever, they know that I am trying to do the best for the team.
"Fernando knows why he was left out. It was because of space. I didn't need to explain it too much. All the players want to play in every game.
"If you say to me that Dirk Kuyt is a worse striker or Peter Crouch is a worse striker or Andriy Voronin is a worse striker then I would play Torres every game.
"But because we have very good strikers, I like to choose the strikers for every game and if it is necessary to change I will change.
"I am thinking about the best for my team. I think it was a terrific game for Fernando. But the team worked really hard and it was a very difficult game.
"We knew it could be like that but with the space, Fernando is really dangerous.
"But the rest of the team showed real character as well as Fernando. That is the key for me because you can play with one or two strikers working hard but other players not doing their jobs. But every player did a fantastic job."