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Crouch warning for Torres

Star striker told to get used to Rafa's rotation

By Rob Parrish Last updated: 27th September 2007

Torres: Crouch warning

It keeps every player hungry. You don't want to be out of the side, so you've got to perform when given the chance. The players who came in have done that.

Peter Crouch. Quotes of the week

Peter Crouch has told Liverpool's hat-trick hero Fernando Torres that there is no avoiding Rafael Benitez's rotation policy.

The Spain international, left on the bench for the Premier League stalemates against Portsmouth and Birmingham, started against Reading in the Carling Cup and hit a superb second-half treble as the Reds progressed 4-2.

But Benitez has already warned Torres there are no guarantees he will start against Wigan this weekend, a situation Crouch is all-too aware of.

Chop and change

The England striker said: "It is certainly something he'll have to get used to. The manager likes to chop and change the team but as long as it works and we play like we did at Reading, then I'm sure there won't be too many people complaining.

"It keeps every player hungry. You don't want to be out of the side, so you've got to perform when given the chance. The players who came in have done that."

Obvious qualities

Crouch started alongside club-record signing Torres at the Madejski Stadium and insists there is more to his game than just goals.

He said: "The thing about Fernando is that he's a top class player but he works so hard for the team. You can see that. The manager obviously likes all the players to work hard and the strikers to track back and he does that extremely well, as well as his more obvious qualities.

"His goals were fantastically taken and it was a superb all round performance.

"He's a strong lad and he proved that he can certainly cope with the physical side. He comes from a different way of playing - Spanish football is different to English football - but he's an extremely strong physical player. He has pace and attributes to help him cope with that. I'm sure he's going to be a force this year."

Targeted

Meanwhile, Crouch has admitted he has had to change his style of play for international action and in the UEFA Champions League.

Former referee Graham Poll claimed Fifa instructed World Cup officials to focus on the giant striker at last summer's tournament in Germany.

Crouch told Radio Five Live: "Certainly, in the Champions League and in international football, I feel like I've been penalised far too much, whereas in the Premier League I haven't been penalised for things.

"I've had to adapt my game in internationals and the Champions League. I feel the way I play is within the rules of the game. I'd like to find out from the governing body if I was targeted."

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