Rafa keeps Crouch on the bench for trip to Blackburn

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez resisted the opportunity to name Peter Crouch in his starting line-up against Blackburn with the England striker left on the bench at Ewood Park today.

Despite struggling up front in recent weeks because of injury to record signing Fernando Torres, Benitez opted for Dirk Kuyt as a lone front man with Steven Gerrard playing a supporting role.