Benitez defends his position on use of Gerrard

Rafael Benitez last night issued a vehement defence of his use of Steven Gerrard this season, insisting he will continue to deploy the England midfielder in positions he feels will best benefit Liverpool even if that denies his captain the opportunity to play in his favoured central role.

Gerrard has been employed principally on the right side of midfield this term, although he was asked to fill in on the left at Chelsea on Sunday.

That has prompted fears that the 26-year-old's talents are being marginalised. But Benitez, who has watched Steve McClaren make similar demands on the player with England, is adamant he can flourish on the flank, just as Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldhino have excelled in similar positions.

Indeed, Benitez believes the central midfield partnership of Xabi Alonso and Mohamed Sissoko will serve to liberate Gerrard.

"How many years has Steve played here in the Liverpool first team? Eight? And which was his best season? Last year, when he scored 23 goals from the right-hand side," said the Spaniard.

"He's a central midfielder, and I promise you I'd like to play him in the middle, but I cannot now. You need to find balance and it's better for the team to play him where he is.

"He's not a winger, but he's not playing as a winger. Sometimes you have to say: 'I know that is your position, but if you play here maybe you can be as good as in the middle.' Analyse Zidane. He played on the left and drifted inside. Ronaldinho, the best player in the world and a player who wants to play as a second striker or behind the forwards, is playing on the left.

"Given the understanding and qualities of Momo and Xabi, that partnership gives my other players - and Stevie in particular - more freedom. The key is to give him a role. If I told him to get to the byline and cross with his left foot, it would be a mistake. But if I tell him to run inside and attack the defence, it works. He had three chances against Chelsea doing exactly that."

Gerrard has yet to open his scoring account for his club this season after his most prolific campaign last year but, having spoken to Benitez, he remains content to play the role his manager feels best benefits the side.

"He said very clearly that, if it is good for the team, there is no problem," added Benitez.

"He would like to play in the middle for sure, but he knows he is the captain and must set an example. Is it a risk for me? If the risk is that he might score 23 goals again, then I will accept that risk.

"Steve is a very good player, and has the quality and talent to play in any position. And to play there well. He played in the Champions League final at right-back. Now we have Jermaine Pennant, a winger we had spent two years looking for, and two midfielders - Xabi and Momo - between whom the balance is good. So where do you put Stevie? On the left, or as a second striker. Then people would ask why aren't we playing Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt, Robbie Fowler or Craig Bellamy."

The inability of that quartet to conjure enough goals so far has anchored Liverpool in 15th place before tonight's Premiership visit of Newcastle. Liverpool have sent more shots off target - 40 - than any other Premiership team this season, despite playing a game fewer than most, with Crouch likely to earn a recall tonight as they attempt to score after 315 barren minutes.

Kuyt and Bellamy, against his former club, will compete for the second berth, though the manager's willingness to chop and change his line-ups has merely added to the sense of imbalance.

Benitez has authorised Harry Kewell to undergo surgery later this week to alleviate long-standing groin and foot injuries.

Newcastle reserve goalkeeper Steve Harper deputises for the injured Shay Given tonight. "I didn't want my chance in these circumstances because it was an awful, awful injury and really worrying at the time," said Given's understudy who, after much soul searching, signed a new contract last week.

"You don't mind getting an opportunity if Shay jars his finger but it was horrible to see him like that." Harper (31) will be making only his third Premiership start in more than five years in the game at Anfield and nicknames Given "Lazarus" in recognition of his uncanny ability to shake off knocks.

"Shay sent me a text yesterday saying he'd got more tubes sticking out of him than I don't know what but that he would be having a fitness test on Wednesday morning," joked Harper.

A qualified referee and the holder of an Open University degree, Harper admits his eternal understudy status has sometimes prompted mild depression. "I've warmed up at Anfield a few times but I've never actually played there and it's hard being on the bench," he admitted.

"I work my socks off day in day out in training and I'm like a bear with a sore head on a Saturday at 2pm when the team-sheet goes out because I want to play - don't ever believe I don't. I've waited a long time for an opportunity and, at times it's been really hard."

Financial security helps but the keeper, who could have earned higher wages as first choice at another club, insists money is not his primary incentive. "Signing a new contract was a big decision; I thought about it long and hard," said Harper. "But I'm not financially motivated to take advantage of the Bosman ruling; I just want a run in Newcastle's first team."