From Sky
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez insists the decision on where to play Steven Gerrard rests with him and not the England international.
Gerrard claimed in midweek that he would be set for an extended run in central midfield - a position he generally favours, despite more often than not being deployed on the right side of the team by Benitez.
Gerrard intimated that Mohamed Sissoko's shoulder surgery could have paved the way for a tandem with Xabi Alonso, although Benitez insists he has other alternatives to consider.
The Spaniard is adamant that deploying Gerrard on the right has maintained the balance of his team.
However, the former Valencia boss's tactics have been called into question following last weekend's limp surrender at Arsenal and supporters' eyes have now turned to his team selection for Saturday's match at Middlesbrough.
"We used Bolo Zenden [against Arsenal] and I was happy with Bolo and Xabi. And I am happy with Steven when he plays in the middle," Benitez told Sky Sports News.
"I spoke with him before the Arsenal game. I wanted to explain that he will play more games in the centre but against Arsenal he would play on the right side.
"We need to find the right balance for the team. We haven't got a right winger in my team who will score 23 goals. Stevie played the right side and scored lots of goals and also Xabi and Sissoko give us balance.
"Against Arsenal we knew Fabregas would play between the lines.
"Steven is a player that likes to go forward and always when you go forward you need to come back.
"If the other team have players like Fabregas it's important to close the space and be close to him.
"I try to have the best team for each game and use the best players we have.
"We know Steven on the right side can go forward and create problems for the defenders of other teams.
"Maybe with other players we could use Steven in the middle, but with the players we had, we decided it would be best to use Steven on the right. It wasn't bad."
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez insists the decision on where to play Steven Gerrard rests with him and not the England international.
Gerrard claimed in midweek that he would be set for an extended run in central midfield - a position he generally favours, despite more often than not being deployed on the right side of the team by Benitez.
Gerrard intimated that Mohamed Sissoko's shoulder surgery could have paved the way for a tandem with Xabi Alonso, although Benitez insists he has other alternatives to consider.
The Spaniard is adamant that deploying Gerrard on the right has maintained the balance of his team.
However, the former Valencia boss's tactics have been called into question following last weekend's limp surrender at Arsenal and supporters' eyes have now turned to his team selection for Saturday's match at Middlesbrough.
"We used Bolo Zenden [against Arsenal] and I was happy with Bolo and Xabi. And I am happy with Steven when he plays in the middle," Benitez told Sky Sports News.
"I spoke with him before the Arsenal game. I wanted to explain that he will play more games in the centre but against Arsenal he would play on the right side.
"We need to find the right balance for the team. We haven't got a right winger in my team who will score 23 goals. Stevie played the right side and scored lots of goals and also Xabi and Sissoko give us balance.
"Against Arsenal we knew Fabregas would play between the lines.
"Steven is a player that likes to go forward and always when you go forward you need to come back.
"If the other team have players like Fabregas it's important to close the space and be close to him.
"I try to have the best team for each game and use the best players we have.
"We know Steven on the right side can go forward and create problems for the defenders of other teams.
"Maybe with other players we could use Steven in the middle, but with the players we had, we decided it would be best to use Steven on the right. It wasn't bad."
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