Crouch on the bench for Reds

Under-pressure Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez went for an attacking line-up for his side’s vital Champions League Group A clash with pool leaders Porto.

The Reds went into the game at Anfield knowing they needed to win to have a realistic chance of staying in the competition, and avoiding more immediate off-field problems for the manager and club.

Andriy Voronin, Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel, none of whom were in the starting line-up on Saturday at Newcastle, were recalled to the side, as was Javier Mascherano in midfield.

Porto, who needed one point to be sure of qualifying for the last 16, showed five changes from the side which caused so many problems for Liverpool in the group’s opening match back in September.

At the time few realised how that game in Portugal would start much of the uncertainty about Benitez’s role in the eyes of the club’s American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

Ahead of this critical tie, 2,000 fans marched from a nearby pub in support of Benitez, while banners and flags backing the Spaniard filled the Kop.

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Arbeloa, Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Babel, Voronin, Torres.

Subs: Itandje, Riise, Kewell, Crouch, Kuyt, Lucas, Sissoko.

FC Porto: Helton, Bosingwa, Stepanov, Bruno Alves, Cech, Mariano Gonzalez, Lucho Gonzalez, Paulo Assuncao, Kazmierczak, Quaresma, Lopez.

Subs: Nuno, Pedro Emanuel, Fucile, Raul Meireles, Sektioui, Bolatti, Postiga.

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy)