Rafa's rotation is ruining Reds, says Wigan star

It is the reason why Koumas' best friend Craig Bellamy quit the Reds in the summer after just one season at Anfield.

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Fernando Torres is now enduring a similar fate, learning the hard way that a club record £21million price tag means nothing as far as Benitez is concerned.

Ahead of tomorrow's clash between the Latics and Liverpool at the JJB Stadium, life-long Reds fan Koumas revealed: "Craig suffered with the rotation policy last year.

"He didn't enjoy it, he was struggling with it and he had to get out. I had a lot of sympathy with him over it.

"I spoke to him a lot about it, and it was tough for him because he is one of those players who needs to play week in week out to get his form going.

"But it didn't really happen for him at Liverpool."

Koumas finds it difficult to understand Benitez at times, adding: "When you have a settled 11 that's winning games, it's hard to change things.

"If you asked our gaffer (Chris Hutchings) what he would do after winning three or four on the bounce...how could you change it?"

Koumas acknowledges Benitez has to be given some credit in light of the fact Liverpool won the Champions League in 2005, and were finalists again in May.

"I don't know how the other players there feel about it, but you can't argue with Benitez because he has a great record and he keeps taking the club forward," reflected Koumas.

"It has worked for him a lot. It's worked for him in the past and hopefully it will work for him in the future."

But what Koumas wants now is for Benitez to deliver the Barclays Premier League title because while he might be a Wigan player, he is a loyal Red to the core.

As a child Koumas stood on the Kop, or at least sat on the barriers so he could see the games, and played for them from the age of eight before later signing YTS forms.

He feels passionately about the club, and wants the best for them like any fan.

"With Benitez you don't know what his priority is. Is it the Champions League or the Premiership because he does rotate a lot?" questioned the Wales international midfielder.

"He has turned the club round, taken us forward, but the next step now is winning the Premiership, which is what we all want as fans.

"If you ask all the fans now, they want the Premiership title, and while it will be tough for them, I do feel they've a great chance.

"Hopefully that will happen after tomorrow."

Koumas, Wigan's £5.3million club record signing, rightly concedes the game is one he has been looking forward to most this season.

And he would certainly not think twice about scoring the winner if given the opportunity, a goal that would end the Latics' miserable record against the top four.

During the past two seasons in the top flight, Wigan have lost all 16 matches against Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea, conceding 41 goals in the process.

"I've heard about that stat, so this is a great chance for us to turn that round," remarked Koumas.

"But to beat the top four you have to hope they have an off day and you're on top of your game.

"Hopefully we do play well and they have that off day, but it's going to be tough because they've no injuries and are going to be at full strength.

"We still feel we can get something out of it because we're going into it not worrying about them.

"All the pressure is on them. They're expected to beat us, so let's see what happens."

Hutchings remains without Emile Heskey and Denny Landzaat, while Kevin Kilbane (ankle), Antonio Valencia (hamstring) and Ryan Taylor (calf) are doubts.