Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez says he was 'protecting' his 'injured' trio by hauling them out of the Champions League cauldron on Wednesday evening.
Desperate to hold off the challenge of hometown club Atletico Madrid, many would have found it strange to see Rafael Benitez hook Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane and Xabi Alonso during the second half.
The Reds went on to draw 1-1 and the absence of goalscorer Keane, 'Mr Champions League' Gerrard and shoot-on-sight midfielder Alonso was telling.
However, this was no tactical tinkering, for Benitez has confirmed that the trio were carrying knocks. With one eye on the Chelsea showdown on Sunday, then, Rafa decided to take them out of the oven to cool down.
They will be assessed for the rest of the week, but the boss expects the threesome to line up against the Blues.
"The three players had some problems," he explained. "Keane and Gerrard and Alonso were tired, so we were trying to use players with fresh legs. We were trying to protect all of them by substituting them.
"I don't think they are serious; we will have to wait and see tomorrow.
"It was a little bit of a muscle problem for Robbie and he'll see the doctor, but Gerrard is okay - he was just really tired. Alonso? He has a knock on his knee."
Atleti boss Javier Aguirre will perhaps be a tad insulted to hear Benitez admit that key man Gerrard was taken off for a rest.
Desperate to hold off the challenge of hometown club Atletico Madrid, many would have found it strange to see Rafael Benitez hook Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane and Xabi Alonso during the second half.
The Reds went on to draw 1-1 and the absence of goalscorer Keane, 'Mr Champions League' Gerrard and shoot-on-sight midfielder Alonso was telling.
However, this was no tactical tinkering, for Benitez has confirmed that the trio were carrying knocks. With one eye on the Chelsea showdown on Sunday, then, Rafa decided to take them out of the oven to cool down.
They will be assessed for the rest of the week, but the boss expects the threesome to line up against the Blues.
"The three players had some problems," he explained. "Keane and Gerrard and Alonso were tired, so we were trying to use players with fresh legs. We were trying to protect all of them by substituting them.
"I don't think they are serious; we will have to wait and see tomorrow.
"It was a little bit of a muscle problem for Robbie and he'll see the doctor, but Gerrard is okay - he was just really tired. Alonso? He has a knock on his knee."
Atleti boss Javier Aguirre will perhaps be a tad insulted to hear Benitez admit that key man Gerrard was taken off for a rest.
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