Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool can march into the Carling Cup quarter-finals with a revenge win at Spurs because he has players desperate to prove themselves.
Benitez will make wholesale changes for the fourth-round tie at White Hart Lane, scene of the Reds’ only defeat this season when Spurs fought back to claim a late 2-1 victory.
The bulk of that side will not be on show tomorrow, although Benitez is considering using Fernando Torres from the start.
Torres played for the final 19 minutes of Saturday’s 3-0 win over West Brom after a six-game absence with a hamstring injury.
The likes of Steven Gerrard, Jose Reina, Dirk Kuyt, Javier Mascherano, Daniel Agger and Albert Riera are not expected to figure but Benitez insists Liverpool can force their way into the last eight.
He said: “We have enough players in the squad waiting for their chance to impress, it will be important for them to grab this opportunity.
“And when the team is playing well it is easier to change players and retain the system.
“I believe we can still continue to play well and to keep winning regardless of the players we use.”
Benitez will probably bring in goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri, defenders Sami Hyypia and Andreas Dossena, midfielders Yossi Benayoun, Jermaine Pennant, Lucas, Nabil El Zhar and Ryan Babel.
Robbie Keane may get a chance to play again at his former club, possibly alongside Torres, while youngsters Jay Spearing, David Ngog, Emiliano Insua and Damien Plessis could be involved.
Benitez added: “We want to win every game but this is another competition and we have several players who are tired after some difficult weeks so we rest some and change a few.
“But we have a good squad so we will try to win with different players.
“We may well use Torres from the start. It is a decision I will take on the day after seeing how he has done during training.”
The league defeat at Spurs earlier this month still rankles with Benitez, and he will be looking for his much-changed side to gain revenge.
He said: “We were very much on top and looking a good team, but in football you can play really well and lose while on other occasions you can play badly and still win.
“That was the case last time. We played well and lost. It was more a case that we lost the game rather than them winning it.
“But Spurs have done well. When you are at the bottom and start winning, the confidence comes back. They have good players and finished fifth twice a few years back.”
Israel midfielder Benayoun already has his eyes on a Wembley appearance and a winners’ medal.
He said: “We have a cup game we know we can win and want to win. We want to win all the competitions, do not doubt that.
“We want to win at Spurs, especially having lost there in the league.
“And for the other players in the squad it is a chance to show what we can do.
“We want to win the game and go on to win the Carling Cup, whoever is in the side. It is important for us.
“There’s a little bit of revenge maybe. The league game at Spurs was one of our best performances of the season and we lost at the end.
“We know we are a better team than that and we have a team who can win at Spurs.”
Benayoun admits he is impressed by the job new Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has done, adding: “I have been a little surprised by what Harry Redknapp has done, he changed them almost in a few days.
“He deserves the credit and is a good manager and a good person. I wish him all the best, but only after Wednesday.”
Benitez will make wholesale changes for the fourth-round tie at White Hart Lane, scene of the Reds’ only defeat this season when Spurs fought back to claim a late 2-1 victory.
The bulk of that side will not be on show tomorrow, although Benitez is considering using Fernando Torres from the start.
Torres played for the final 19 minutes of Saturday’s 3-0 win over West Brom after a six-game absence with a hamstring injury.
The likes of Steven Gerrard, Jose Reina, Dirk Kuyt, Javier Mascherano, Daniel Agger and Albert Riera are not expected to figure but Benitez insists Liverpool can force their way into the last eight.
He said: “We have enough players in the squad waiting for their chance to impress, it will be important for them to grab this opportunity.
“And when the team is playing well it is easier to change players and retain the system.
“I believe we can still continue to play well and to keep winning regardless of the players we use.”
Benitez will probably bring in goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri, defenders Sami Hyypia and Andreas Dossena, midfielders Yossi Benayoun, Jermaine Pennant, Lucas, Nabil El Zhar and Ryan Babel.
Robbie Keane may get a chance to play again at his former club, possibly alongside Torres, while youngsters Jay Spearing, David Ngog, Emiliano Insua and Damien Plessis could be involved.
Benitez added: “We want to win every game but this is another competition and we have several players who are tired after some difficult weeks so we rest some and change a few.
“But we have a good squad so we will try to win with different players.
“We may well use Torres from the start. It is a decision I will take on the day after seeing how he has done during training.”
The league defeat at Spurs earlier this month still rankles with Benitez, and he will be looking for his much-changed side to gain revenge.
He said: “We were very much on top and looking a good team, but in football you can play really well and lose while on other occasions you can play badly and still win.
“That was the case last time. We played well and lost. It was more a case that we lost the game rather than them winning it.
“But Spurs have done well. When you are at the bottom and start winning, the confidence comes back. They have good players and finished fifth twice a few years back.”
Israel midfielder Benayoun already has his eyes on a Wembley appearance and a winners’ medal.
He said: “We have a cup game we know we can win and want to win. We want to win all the competitions, do not doubt that.
“We want to win at Spurs, especially having lost there in the league.
“And for the other players in the squad it is a chance to show what we can do.
“We want to win the game and go on to win the Carling Cup, whoever is in the side. It is important for us.
“There’s a little bit of revenge maybe. The league game at Spurs was one of our best performances of the season and we lost at the end.
“We know we are a better team than that and we have a team who can win at Spurs.”
Benayoun admits he is impressed by the job new Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has done, adding: “I have been a little surprised by what Harry Redknapp has done, he changed them almost in a few days.
“He deserves the credit and is a good manager and a good person. I wish him all the best, but only after Wednesday.”
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