Fixtures pile up for Benitez

Rafael Benitez admits his players cannot maintain their high tempo throughout every game as Liverpool continue their demanding schedule on Sunday without Jamie Carragher and Mohamed Sissoko.

Carragher is suspended for the Anfield clash with Manchester City, while Sissoko suffered a serious eye injury during the midweek Champions League defeat to Benfica.

The 1-0 loss in Portugal was Liverpool’s 46th game of a congested campaign and they have a minimum of 14 more matches to play which could stretch to 21 - without replays – if they go all the way in the FA Cup and Champions League.

Boss Benitez said: “It is not possible for a team to play at a high tempo all of the time.”

The increasing tiredness is becoming obvious. After losing to Chelsea on February 5, Liverpool embarked on a fixture schedule of 11 games in 39 days because of the rearranged home game with Fulham.

In Lisbon the side looked lacking in pace, energy and drive. They were missing skipper Steven Gerrard – he will be back to face City – and the loss of Sissoko and Carragher leaves Benitez short on numbers.

Benitez added: “It is hard for us to keep playing the same way after having had so many games already this season.”

Liverpool hope to have striker Peter Crouch back up front against City, the big striker sitting out the Benfica match on the bench to protect the wound over his eye that required six stitches following the FA Cup win over Manchester United.

And the barrage of fixtures does not ease up after playing City, who they beat 1-0 at Eastlands on November 26.

Benitez added: “If you are playing all the time it means you are still involved in everything, we have three tournaments still. I would rather that than playing one game a week, which means you only have one thing to play for.”