Benitez will continue to rest Torres
Fernando Torres has been a big hit at Anfield
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Thursday, 27, Sep 2007 09:51
Fernando Torres may have scored a hat-trick in Liverpool's 4-2 Carling Cup win at Reading, but according to manager Rafael Benitez the striker is not guaranteed a starting place against Wigan in the Premier League on Saturday.
Liverpool's £25 million summer signing did not start his team's last two league games against Portsmouth and Birmingham, which both ended goalless. But Benitez is adamant he will continue to rest Torres.
"I don't need Torres for playing Birmingham if I have Dirk Kuyt, Andriy Voronin and Peter Crouch," said Benitez.
"It's not very difficult, we signed Torres because we knew about his quality and we signed Kuyt, Voronin and Crouch for the same reasons.
"I know everybody's talking about him because he scored three goals but it was the same situation before with the strikers and as a manager you need to make decisions."
Benitez believes his decision to rest his main striker at the start of the season will be beneficial towards the end of the season.
"When you are playing for winning trophies you must analyse everything and say 'OK, for the last 10-15 games I need Torres fit'," said Benitez.
"You can play 20, 25 or 30 games in a row. No problem. Everybody can do it. The problem is at the end of the season after 30-40 games.
"The last ten-15 games you are playing for trophies and you must be fresh, ready and fit," added Benitez.
Liverpool led the Premier League after four games, but have now fallen four points behind leaders Arsenal after the disappointing draws against Birmingham and Portsmouth.