Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has vowed to protect star striker Michael Owen as the England forward struggles to find his goalscoring touch.
Owen has scored just one goal - a penalty - so far this season and has been on the bench in Liverpool's last two matches.
He came on against Spanish side Valencia on Tuesday but was powerless to prevent a 2-0 Champions League defeat in Liverpool's first match of this season's tournament.
But Houllier said he would have to look after Owen, 22, as much as possible.
"I will rest him whenever I get a chance," Houllier said.
"The temptation with Michael is to play him in every game. "But we have learned that if you do that you run the risk of losing him for three or four months.
"I've talked to him about it and he only has to look back at his own experiences to understand my thinking," he added.