PETER CROUCH has put a nose job on hold to play in Liverpool's season-defining double-header against Barcelona and Manchester United.
The striker is facing surgery next week after the Champions League second leg.
Crouch suffered a badly broken nose during last Saturday's 4-0 win over Sheffield United.
He's fit to play against United tomorrow, but is clearly uncomfortable with the knock.
"Crouchy is training and obviously wants to play in both these games," explained Benitez.
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"After Barcelona he will see the surgeon and may decide to have an operation. If that's the case he will be out for around ten or 12 games.
"At this moment he is determined to wait which is good news for us because it is important he can be available for these games."
Benitez insists there's no question of him prioritising the Barcelona match and sacrificing tomorrow's Premiership clash.
"The important thing for us now is to focus on Manchester United," he said.
"We won't be having an eye on the second game because both are very important to us.
"This is not a situation where I can say one game is more important than the others. Maybe there are some moments when you can think of resting players, but not here.
"What I do think about as a manager is which players are right for each game.
“For example, against some teams you know pace is really important so we use Bellamy and in other situations we want height in attack so we use Crouch.
“These are the kind of decisions I'm thinking about."
The striker is facing surgery next week after the Champions League second leg.
Crouch suffered a badly broken nose during last Saturday's 4-0 win over Sheffield United.
He's fit to play against United tomorrow, but is clearly uncomfortable with the knock.
"Crouchy is training and obviously wants to play in both these games," explained Benitez.
Story continues Continue story
ADVERTISEMENT
"After Barcelona he will see the surgeon and may decide to have an operation. If that's the case he will be out for around ten or 12 games.
"At this moment he is determined to wait which is good news for us because it is important he can be available for these games."
Benitez insists there's no question of him prioritising the Barcelona match and sacrificing tomorrow's Premiership clash.
"The important thing for us now is to focus on Manchester United," he said.
"We won't be having an eye on the second game because both are very important to us.
"This is not a situation where I can say one game is more important than the others. Maybe there are some moments when you can think of resting players, but not here.
"What I do think about as a manager is which players are right for each game.
“For example, against some teams you know pace is really important so we use Bellamy and in other situations we want height in attack so we use Crouch.
“These are the kind of decisions I'm thinking about."
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