Benitez Set To Gamble

Rafa Benitez is prepared to gamble with Fernando Torres’ fitness ahead of a landmark week in Liverpool’s season.

The in-form forward was subjected to a physical battering at Reading in the Carling Cup earlier this season.

But the Anfield boss would be happy to push his top scorer back into the front line on Saturday, even with the must-win Champions League clash at Marseille looming just three days later.

Benitez admitted yesterday he hadn’t decided on his starting line up for Saturday's tea-time trip to the Madejski Stadium, but said he would have no qualms about handing Torres his fourth start in succession, matching the longest run of games he has had since joining the club.

“I think it will be difficult for all our players because Reading are physical and they are strong,” explained Benitez.

“It is especially difficult for the strikers. But Torres is strong enough and he also has ability and good movement, so if the team is playing well he can manage with the physical game.

“I think Torres can produce good movement and it will be difficult to control him.

“He has been resting for one month so he is fresh and we can use him more often now.

“The key for me is when you have two games in a week, with only two or three days in between, it makes a big difference in how you play.

“But Torres is fit and we don't have any problems about him playing two or three games now.”

Benitez added that some players are better suited to the demands of back to back fixtures.

“We try to manage the players, but some players can handle the games better than others,” he added.

“If we can talk about one – Momo Sissoko – he can play at a very high tempo and be fit in two or three days. Other players who are older or who play in another position may need four or five days. So you need to know all these things.

“Torres is a player who can work for the team, but I am pleased with all our strikers.

“Voronin can do the job, Crouch can do the job and Kuyt can do the job, too. All of them work hard to defend for the team and all of them can go forward and score goals.

“So I am really pleased with the forwards.”