FERNANDO TORRES will step unexpectedly back into Liverpool’s front line tonight with Rafa Benitez insisting doggedly he knows how best to handle the striker.
Liverpool’s £18million record signing started on the bench in Saturday’s damaging Premier League stalemate with Birmingham, but has been included in a almost full-strength squad for the Carling Cup tie at Reading.
Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher will also feature at the Madejski Stadium, as Benitez underlines his intention to fight for trophies on four fronts.
“I want to go forward in the Carling Cup, that’s clear,” said the Liverpool manager. “How we go about doing that is the question. If, with your squad, you can fight for four trophies then that’s perfect.”
Yet having overlooked Torres for a starting role at the weekend, and subsequently watching his side squander two points in a dour 0-0 draw, his methods will come under heavy scrutiny once again.
Benitez has become increasingly irked by the criticism his team selections have received – rumblings of discontent spread among supporters on Saturday – but served notice that he will not be railroaded into ditching his beliefs by selecting a travelling party packed with internationals.
Barring any last-minute disruptions, Torres is likely to be partnered by Peter Crouch at Reading. Brazilian defender Fabio Aurelio is also in line to make his first senior start since rupturing an Achilles tendon in a Champions League win over PSV Eindhoven in March.
Torres was restricted to a 30-minute cameo against Steve Bruce’s Birmingham – Benitez arguing that Andriy Voronin and Dirk Kuyt were better suited to playing against packed defences.
This was a startling admission, given the Spaniard formed the centrepiece of a £45m summer spending spree and was brought in to make a difference to Liverpool’s domestic toils.
The inclusion of Gerrard is also something of a surprise, since Benitez stated after the Birmingham game his captain was not “100 per cent fresh”, and blamed England for over-burdening the 27-year-old following his recovery from a broken toe.
“It depends on how the senior players are as to whether we think about using some of the reserves,” said Benitez. “I don’t want to promise them anything. Maybe I will use a team full of senior players.
“I don’t like to experiment. I prefer to be sure. If we need to use a player, it’s because we think he’s good enough, not because we want to experiment.” Liverpool, who beat Reading 4-3 at Anfield in the same stage of the competition last season, will hand a debut to French goalkeeper Charles Itandje, signed from Lens on a free transfer, as Pepe Reina is rested.
“Reina is a very good keeper and I am clearly going to be the No2,” said Itandje. “But there are 60 matches a season and it is planned that I will play in the League Cup and FA Cup.
“I could have joined Almeria in Spain as their first choice, but I didn’t choose the easy way. I preferred to join a very big club. It is up to me to create a doubt in the coach’s mind.”
Harry Kewell, who has yet to play this season, is again missing with Liverpool unwilling to take any risks with the Australia winger who has been nursing a groin injury.
“I don’t think he will be in contention. It’s too early,” said Benitez. “He is improving, but he still needs a little bit more time.”
Kewell’s contract expires at the end of the campaign and he will be free to talk terms with foreign clubs from January.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/...-back-to-front
Liverpool’s £18million record signing started on the bench in Saturday’s damaging Premier League stalemate with Birmingham, but has been included in a almost full-strength squad for the Carling Cup tie at Reading.
Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher will also feature at the Madejski Stadium, as Benitez underlines his intention to fight for trophies on four fronts.
“I want to go forward in the Carling Cup, that’s clear,” said the Liverpool manager. “How we go about doing that is the question. If, with your squad, you can fight for four trophies then that’s perfect.”
Yet having overlooked Torres for a starting role at the weekend, and subsequently watching his side squander two points in a dour 0-0 draw, his methods will come under heavy scrutiny once again.
Benitez has become increasingly irked by the criticism his team selections have received – rumblings of discontent spread among supporters on Saturday – but served notice that he will not be railroaded into ditching his beliefs by selecting a travelling party packed with internationals.
Barring any last-minute disruptions, Torres is likely to be partnered by Peter Crouch at Reading. Brazilian defender Fabio Aurelio is also in line to make his first senior start since rupturing an Achilles tendon in a Champions League win over PSV Eindhoven in March.
Torres was restricted to a 30-minute cameo against Steve Bruce’s Birmingham – Benitez arguing that Andriy Voronin and Dirk Kuyt were better suited to playing against packed defences.
This was a startling admission, given the Spaniard formed the centrepiece of a £45m summer spending spree and was brought in to make a difference to Liverpool’s domestic toils.
The inclusion of Gerrard is also something of a surprise, since Benitez stated after the Birmingham game his captain was not “100 per cent fresh”, and blamed England for over-burdening the 27-year-old following his recovery from a broken toe.
“It depends on how the senior players are as to whether we think about using some of the reserves,” said Benitez. “I don’t want to promise them anything. Maybe I will use a team full of senior players.
“I don’t like to experiment. I prefer to be sure. If we need to use a player, it’s because we think he’s good enough, not because we want to experiment.” Liverpool, who beat Reading 4-3 at Anfield in the same stage of the competition last season, will hand a debut to French goalkeeper Charles Itandje, signed from Lens on a free transfer, as Pepe Reina is rested.
“Reina is a very good keeper and I am clearly going to be the No2,” said Itandje. “But there are 60 matches a season and it is planned that I will play in the League Cup and FA Cup.
“I could have joined Almeria in Spain as their first choice, but I didn’t choose the easy way. I preferred to join a very big club. It is up to me to create a doubt in the coach’s mind.”
Harry Kewell, who has yet to play this season, is again missing with Liverpool unwilling to take any risks with the Australia winger who has been nursing a groin injury.
“I don’t think he will be in contention. It’s too early,” said Benitez. “He is improving, but he still needs a little bit more time.”
Kewell’s contract expires at the end of the campaign and he will be free to talk terms with foreign clubs from January.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/...-back-to-front
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