Gerrard puts trust in Rafa's rotation policy

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard insists he will have no problem taking his turn on the bench this season.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez has drawn criticism for his constant and sweeping team changes already this campaign.

The decision to leave out record signing Fernando Torres for last week’s draw with Birmingham particularly came under the microscope, especially as the player then scored a Carling Cup hat-trick at Reading.

But with the club chasing success in both the Champions League and the Premier League, Gerrard is happy to put his faith in the manager’s rotation policy.

“There are so many games,” Gerrard told BBC Football Focus. “There are 60-65 games we hope.

“It is impossible to ask the players to play in every game. We have got to trust Rafa.

“The players had adapted before the season started but when the fans and others don’t see Fernando in the starting XI, a fuss is kicked up.”

Torres has made a strong impact at Anfield since his summer move from Atletico Madrid.

Gerrard has been immediately impressed and hopes the Spaniard’s goals can fire up a strong title challenge.

The England midfielder added: “I have been amazed by his impact so far.

“I knew he was a great player, a quick striker who scores goals but what has impressed me so much has been his workrate for the team.

“He is working really hard and giving defenders a nightmare job marking him. Hopefully he can do that for the rest of the season and we can be successful.”

Liverpool, last season’s beaten finalists, return to Champions League action this week as Marseille visit Anfield.

Benitez’s side opened up their campaign earlier this month with a creditable 1-1 draw at Porto, although the performance was below par.

It was one of three draws in a week and Gerrard accepts the team were not at their best.

“We had a bit of a blip,” he said. “Because we started the season so well, we we were on fire and were blowing most teams away, expectations went even higher. People were expecting us to do it every week.

“But at Premier League level and Champions League level it is not going to happen. There are going to be times when we have to grind draws out and times when you don’t play well.”

The Group A match will be new Marseille manager Eric Gerets’ first in charge of the French club since succeeding Albert Emon this week.

They are likely to boast a familiar face in their ranks in striker Djibril Cisse, Liverpool’s former record signing.

Cisse completed a permanent move to Marseille this summer after spending last season on loan at the club and scored in their opening Champions League win over Besiktas.