Rafa Benitez will ignore concerns from the Professional Footballers' Association about the risk of player burn-out by starting Steven Gerrard nine times in 29 days as Liverpool battle to keep their season alive.
Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the PFA, has raised concerns at the demands placed on Gerrard and other England internationals.
Yet having lost three key players to injury over the past few days, Benitez ruled out resting his captain as Liverpool face a fight to stay in Europe and play catch-up with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Gerrard, whose busy schedule over the past three weeks has taken him to Moscow with England and Istanbul with his club, starts his seventh game in 22 days at Blackburn today.
Liverpool's influential midfielder is also needed for Tuesday's must-win Champions League game with Besiktas as well as the home league game with Fulham four days later.
Benitez wanted to rest his captain against Cardiff in the Carling Cup on Wednesday but was forced to rethink his plans with Xabi Alonso, Fernando Torres and Jermaine Pennant all suffering injuries.
To play every minute of every game is not the best situation," Benitez said. "But one thing is clear – with Alonso on the pitch Gerrard is important. When we are without Alonso he is even more important. When Gerrard was not playing well, the team was not playing well. He has been playing much better in the last two or three games and hopefully he will continue that run."
Gerrard has scored in each of his last three appearances to take his tally for the season to four, and Benitez believes he can repeat his feat of two seasons ago, when he contributed 22 goals.
"I would like to see him carry on scoring because he clearly has confidence now and is playing at the level that is expected of him," he said.
The visit to Blackburn is another must-win game for Benitez. Mark Hughes' side start one place and one point above the visitors, yet a Liverpool victory will leave them just three points behind the losers of the clash between Arsenal and Manchester United.
"I was talking with some of my players the other day about the situation," Benitez said. "It's really important to be close to the top of the table. Ewood Park is always a difficult place to play. It's more difficult to play against them this time because Blackburn are not only a very physical team, they are also playing well.
"Mark Hughes is doing a very good job and the understanding between the players and the strikers is very good. As well as winning games they are playing good football. It will be a very tough game for us."
Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the PFA, has raised concerns at the demands placed on Gerrard and other England internationals.
Yet having lost three key players to injury over the past few days, Benitez ruled out resting his captain as Liverpool face a fight to stay in Europe and play catch-up with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Gerrard, whose busy schedule over the past three weeks has taken him to Moscow with England and Istanbul with his club, starts his seventh game in 22 days at Blackburn today.
Liverpool's influential midfielder is also needed for Tuesday's must-win Champions League game with Besiktas as well as the home league game with Fulham four days later.
Benitez wanted to rest his captain against Cardiff in the Carling Cup on Wednesday but was forced to rethink his plans with Xabi Alonso, Fernando Torres and Jermaine Pennant all suffering injuries.
To play every minute of every game is not the best situation," Benitez said. "But one thing is clear – with Alonso on the pitch Gerrard is important. When we are without Alonso he is even more important. When Gerrard was not playing well, the team was not playing well. He has been playing much better in the last two or three games and hopefully he will continue that run."
Gerrard has scored in each of his last three appearances to take his tally for the season to four, and Benitez believes he can repeat his feat of two seasons ago, when he contributed 22 goals.
"I would like to see him carry on scoring because he clearly has confidence now and is playing at the level that is expected of him," he said.
The visit to Blackburn is another must-win game for Benitez. Mark Hughes' side start one place and one point above the visitors, yet a Liverpool victory will leave them just three points behind the losers of the clash between Arsenal and Manchester United.
"I was talking with some of my players the other day about the situation," Benitez said. "It's really important to be close to the top of the table. Ewood Park is always a difficult place to play. It's more difficult to play against them this time because Blackburn are not only a very physical team, they are also playing well.
"Mark Hughes is doing a very good job and the understanding between the players and the strikers is very good. As well as winning games they are playing good football. It will be a very tough game for us."
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