Rafael Benitez will have to force his mind away from AC Milan and Athens on Saturday and back to completing Liverpool's league programme.Once again he will find himself in a position to inadvertently influence the futures of other clubs with his team selections.
Liverpool, fresh from the momentous Champions League triumph over Chelsea, are back in west London to face relegation-haunted Fulham.
Craven Cottage is not one of Benitez's favourite grounds, and he will face a Fulham side under new coach Lawrie Sanchez desperate for a win.
That will make this a fierce, confrontational game, and one that Benitez will not want to risk too many of his potential first-choice side for the Champions League final on May 23 in Athens.
He is certain to field a weakened, almost second-string side and that will undoubtedly upset the other teams down in the relegation zone.
He has ignored such considerations twice already recently. Against Wigan at Anfield he rested Steven Gerrard and half-a dozen other front line men. If Wigan had not lost that game, there would have been severe criticism from elsewhere.
Then at Portsmouth last weekend, a team fighting for a UEFA Cup spot with Everton among others, Benitez left Gerrard and co back in Liverpool watching television.
Pompey were all but gifted three points. Mutterings from Goodison Park were clearly audible after that.
But on Saturday Benitez could rest even more. Teenage defender Jack Hobbs was on the bench at Fratton Park and could well get his debut this time, while young Italian goalkeeper Daniele Padelli - among the substitutes against Chelsea in midweek - may also get a first run-out.
Argentinian youngster Emiliano Insua also made his debut against Pompey at left-back, and could figure again.
Alvaro Arbeloa, Craig Bellamy, Mark Gonzalez, Sami Hyypia, Gabriel Paletta and reserve youngsters Paul Anderson and Craig Lindfield could also figure. Benitez may even take some of his FA Youth Cup-winning side with him to London.
He has shown a lack of concern about the problems of others, already saying: "My club is my priority, and I do not believe that a season rests on one or two games."
By that he means that clubs in a mess at the bottom are there because of season-long failings which are not his responsibility now.
Asked last week whether he would give games to Youth Cup final winners against Portsmouth, he did not dismiss the idea out of hand because of a lack of experience, saying only: "Those lads will not play at Portsmouth because they were involved in their own final two days beforehand, they are tired."
Most of them played in a reserve victory over Everton earlier this week, and one or two could find themselves on the bench at Craven Cottage.
By:Paul Walker, PA Sport
Date:4 May 2007
Credit:www.sportinglife.com
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