Benayoun is the man to get best out of ace Torres.

Byline: LAWRENSON

I APPRECIATE that Liverpool are keen to shake off the image that they rely too heavily on Fernando Torres - but that doesn't mean he should be frozen out completely.

The Spanish striker has scored 10 in 10 in the Premier League and has to be the most devastating finisher in the world at the moment.

So when you have someone like that in your side you play to his strengths and give him as many opportunities as possible. Chances are he will take them - as he proved against Manchester United and Fulham.

And that is why I was amazed to see Andriy Voronin paired with him at Craven Cottage.

Torres thrives on the service from behind him so it's vital that when Steven Gerrard is not in the side, the selection is spot-on.

Fernando In the first half, every time Liverpool had possession Torres was constantly looking to get into danger areas and his movement off the ball was excellent.

Trouble was, he never received it.

And he must have been wondering what he was supposed to do when he's thinking ahead but other players aren't on his wavelength.

Yes, he scored one, but it wasn't enough on the day so ways have to be found of rewarding the threat he poses with some decent service.

And I don't buy the argument that when Gerrard is out Liverpool don't have anyone who can drop in behind the lone striker and cause problems.

Has anyone seen Yossi Benayoun play recently? He is the man who should be stepping in to the Gerrard role - he has the vision, the intelligence, the touch, the skill, the creativity to get the best out of Torres.

His pass against United a week earlier was the perfect example of that.

I said last week that when Gerrard was fit, Benayoun's best position was on the right. But in the absence of the skipper, there's no way he should be pushed out to the left.

I have no problem with Torres being taken off at Fulham given his issues getting back to full fitness, but I couldn't understand Benayoun being taken off.

He's not someone Rafael Benitez can afford to alienate now, especially if Gerrard faces a long spell on the sidelines.

Benayoun needs to be put in the middle where he can influence things instead of being stuck out wide and waiting for the ball to be played out to him.

Torres While Javier Mascherano and Lucas are both sitting in the midfield, there's never going to be enough invention coming from the creative areas so Benayoun simply has to be up alongside a main striker. That's where he can influence things.

It gives Torres the best chance of being allowed to play the game he wants and that gives Liverpool the best chance of wining games.

Let's face it, tomorrow night at Lyon that is exactly what they have to do.

The players need to make the best use of the ball and that means sticking Benayoun up there with Torres and going all out for the three points that will keep the Champions League campaign alive.

As far as I'm concerned that's not even a gamble.

It's one of those nights when, if the team is set up right, over-relying on Torres won't be a bad thing.

CAPTION(S):

Fernando Torres