FA PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS:RAFAEL BENITEZ believes the injury problems that contributed to Liverpool's dismal early season form could work in their favour in the contest for Champions League qualification, as Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard are not exposed to the fatigue that may afflict their rivals in the race for fourth place.

Liverpool could reclaim fourth place in the league with victory at Wigan Athletic on Monday night as Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Aston Villa are all without a game in the competition this weekend. Despite losing Martin Skrtel and Fabio Aurelio to foot and thigh injuries respectively, Benitez’s attacking options have improved significantly thanks to Torres’s recovery from hernia and knee problems plus Yossi Benayoun’s return from a broken rib.

With Gerrard’s form also improving by the game and Glen Johnson in contention for his first appearance of 2010 at the DW Stadium, the Liverpool manager says there can be some solace to be taken from the earlier absence of key players during this campaign.

“The players we have coming back now, and how fresh they are, can have an influence on the run-in for sure,” Benitez explained. “If we don’t have any more injury problems this season, and already we have lost Skrtel and Aurelio in the last week, then it could be that our players will be fresher and have more energy than the other teams for the final games of the season. Hopefully it can work out in our favour.”

Johnson has not featured since damaging knee ligaments at Villa in December but, in a timely development for both Liverpool and England, will be considered for the Wigan game. Benitez added: “He trained yesterday, it was a full training session, and I think he will be okay to go in the squad for Wigan. We have two more training sessions before then so we will have to see, but I think he will be okay.”

Liverpool have Sotirios Kyrgiakos available after suspension while Torres, who followed up his match-winning start against Blackburn with 45 minutes for Spain against France on Wednesday, is free of the injury.

“The good thing with Fernando is that he has no injuries now, he is fully fit, the only problem is his lack of match fitness,” said the Liverpool manager. “When you have a player out injured for a long time it is very difficult trying to bring them back. If you push them too hard too soon it is dangerous for the player, but at the same time if you don’t push them they won’t regain match fitness.”