Rafa calls the shots as Liverpool's sidelined stars must wait turn

A summer of unprecedented transfer backing has given the Liverpool manager a wealth of options in all areas but also left some senior players wondering what they have to do to be granted a place in his squad, let alone the starting line-up.

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The quandary was highlighted on the Premier League's opening weekend when Peter Crouch, Javier Mascherano and Yossi Benayoun — all current internationals — even failed to make the team bus for the trip to Aston Villa.

Benitez flatly denied some of his players may have kicked off earlier than others by complaining bitterly about being omitted. But he did at least acknowledge there may be an underlying problem in having 24 candidates for just 16 places.

Crouch was meant to be the chief agitator among the high-profile trio left behind on Saturday but Benitez insisted his explanation was accepted without protest in a meeting that could not have been more cordial.

Whether that level of understanding lasts remains to be seen, but the single-minded former Valencia coach will plough on regardless, as demonstrated by Jermaine Pennant's exclusion from the travelling party for the opening leg of their third qualifying round tie against Toulouse.

Benitez said: "The only problem now is we have too many players but I welcome that. As long as they have the right attitude it can be positive and that has been the case so far.

"I spoke to one player (Crouch) on Sunday and was really pleased with his response. He said he would be ready when needed and accepted the position like a professional.

"It could be that agents are the ones causing the problems but maybe they should concentrate on working for the players rather than themselves. I have prepared the same speech for all the players because I have approached FIFA, UEFA, the FA and Premier League and they have all said we cannot use more than 11 at a time.

"That means some are going to be disappointed and I believe they are all professional enough to think of their team-mates and accept that playing in some games but not others is what happens when you have a squad like ours.

"We have the quality we need now and I just hope nothing negative happens to spoil that. It is never easy deciding who to leave out, but the good thing is it can get a player really rolling his sleeves up on the training pitch and saying: 'Don't forget about me'."

Benitez believes he will reap the rewards of a £50million summer spending spree as he prepares for a mid-afternoon kick-off in searing temperatures.

He said: "We have a lot of respect for Toulouse and it is going to be difficult in the heat but I am now in a position to make the changes I feel are necessary, with Sunday's game against Chelsea in mind.

"I will be able to rest players and still send out a strong side because we now have the resources."

Skipper Steven Gerrard, who may be a substitute to safeguard his fitness for Sunday, called on his team-mates to draw on the bitter disappointment of last May's final defeat by AC Milan to ensure they reach the group stages.

He said: "Good players and big squads bounce back from setbacks like that. You only have to look at AC Milan and all the finals they have been in to appreciate that.

"They were on the receiving end against us in Istanbul but were back in the final again last season and we must instil some of their attitude into the way we approach these games. I have seen highlights of last May against Milan but I don't need to watch it right through. Now it's time to move on."

TOULOUSE (4-1-4-1): Donchez; Ebondo, Cetto, Dieuze, Mathieu; Sissoko; Emana, Cesar, Bergougnoux, Sirieix; Elmander.

LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Reina; Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise; Benayoun, Mascherano, Sissoko, Babel; Gerrard or Crouch, Voronin.

Referee: Kyros Vassaras (Greece).

TV: Setanta Sports 1from3pm(kick-off 3.30).