Benitez pledges to stand by out of form striker Morientes

RAFAEL BENITEZ has vowed to stand by Fernando Morientes despite the striker conceding his form is a worry.

The manager has pledged to adapt Liverpool’s style to assist the Spaniard, with signing a new winger a priority before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

Morientes heads into tonight’s qualifier against CSKA Sofia with Benitez admitting: “We know he can play better, he knows he can play better and he wants to play better.”

The former Real Madrid frontman, 29, finds himself with plenty to prove to Reds supporters, having cost €9.1million when he arrived in January with the reputation of being one of Europe’s most lethal finishers. The wait goes on for proof of such ability, with Morientes having scored just three goals in 17 games.

After a full pre-season, Morientes is expected to lead Liverpool’s attack in the Champions League third qualifying round first leg in Bulgaria, as Peter Crouch has a hamstring injury and the future of Milan Baros remains in doubt.

Benitez said: “Fernando will improve, I am sure. We have all the ingredients to see the best of him this season. He is training well and I insist that if we provide more crosses for him we will see a better Fernando.”

A move for Luis Figo failed when the Real Madrid veteran joined Inter Milan, but Benitez is aware a right winger would add a new dimension to his side.

Benitez is under no illusions that CSKA, who won their domestic title after losing just one game, will present a very worrying obstacle - far greater than TNS or Kaunas.

He said: “CSKA are a far better team than the last two sides we have played in the tournament. They play good football and keep possession, they are quick and they are tight in defence. They are far from a bad team and have some good players.

“We need to be very careful because this will be much more difficult than the previous two rounds. I have seen two videos and we have two reports on them, and we know this will be a far more difficult team to play against.

“We know this team will certainly be better than TNS and Kaunas. We have videos of them this season but also some from last season, and they are a good team with an offensive mentality. This is a step up, a real test for the players. That is what we will be telling them. The message is to be careful because we know how important this round will be.”

Spanish youth international Antonio Barragan has been added to the squad, the former Sevilla full-back, 18, having impressed in training since joining this summer. Goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek’s dislocated elbow has only added to Benitez’s problems, and he will also be without winger Boudewijn Zenden, who has a muscle strain.