Footbal News (3)

Defiant Benitez vows to keep rotating Liverpool line-up

WIGAN: Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez saw Yossi Benayoun clinch a 1-0 win at Wigan and then defended his controversial policy of rotating his Anfield squad.

Benitez brought Israeli international midfielder Benayoun off the bench and he justified his manager’s faith with a spectacular 75th minute solo effort, the only goal of a keenly-contested victory at the JJB Stadium on Saturday.

The Liverpool manager also handed a start to the club’s record signing, Spanish striker Fernando Torres, who had sat out the two previous league games which ended in disappointing goalless stalemates against Portsmouth and Birmingham.

“If you can’t find a solution then you need creativity and quality and that’s what Yossi gave us,” said Benitez.

“He played well the other day and we needed him here this afternoon. We had chances and you need to take those chances if you want an open game.

“Because we couldn’t, we needed to bring on players with different skills and that was good. I wanted to use different players, with different skills, and Yossi has the intelligence for this kind of game.

“In this case, I needed to do different things. I wanted to rotate. I changed Yossi because I needed fresh legs.

“Wigan were working hard in midfield and working hard to win second balls but, in the end, when you have different players in different areas with quality that’s the key when you are talking about a top side.”

The victory brought Liverpool to within four points of the top of the Premier League table and, despite a growing army of critics, Benitez is optimistic that his team can launch a concerted title challenge as the season progresses, especially given his policy of resting players.

“Last season, we were talking and saying we weren’t good enough to be near the top of the table,” said Benitez.

“Now, we’re near the top with one game in hand. We’re in a very good position, better than last year and, hopefully, we will be better at the end of the season.”

Torres, who scored a hat-trick in the midweek League Cup win at Reading to earn a start at the JJB, missed a handful of half-chances but also earned the defence of his manager.

“It’s easy for me on the bench but difficult for him on the pitch,” said Benitez.