Rafa keeps Crouch on the bench for trip to Blackburn
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez resisted the opportunity to name Peter Crouch in his starting line-up against Blackburn with the England striker left on the bench at Ewood Park today.
Despite struggling up front in recent weeks because of injury to record signing Fernando Torres, Benitez opted for Dirk Kuyt as a lone front man with Steven Gerrard playing a supporting role.
With Xabi Alonso suffering a recurrence of his fractured metatarsal in the 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal last week Mohamed Sissoko came into central midfield.
Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel started in place of Andriy Voronin and Torres as Benitez made three changes from the team which faced the Gunners, with Harry Kewell on the bench for the first time this season after a long-term groin injury.
Rovers boss Mark Hughes made two changes to the team which beat Tottenham 2-1 last weekend, captain Ryan Nelsen and Morten Gamst Pedersen returning at the expense of Robbie Savage (knee) and Tugay, who was named among the substitutes.
Blackburn: Friedel, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Emerton, Bentley, Dunn, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, McCarthy.
Subs: Brown, Kerimoglu, Khizanishvili, Treacy, Derbyshire.
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Benayoun, Sissoko, Mascherano, Babel, Gerrard, Kuyt.
Subs: Martin, Kewell, Crouch, Arbeloa, Lucas.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
