Snubbed Crouch returns with a vote of confidence from boss

It is becoming something of an all-too-familiar story for the 6ft 7in England striker - apparently unwanted for much of the domestic action but in demand for Europe.

Scroll down for more

Crouch will just have to take the word of his manager Rafa Benitez, who paid £7million to sign him from Southampton two years ago, that he still has an important role to play at the club when many believe he would be on his way if anyone would meet an asking price of £15m.

The Benitez selection - Crouch and Holland's Dirk Kuyt almost certain to replace £20m club record buy Fernando Torres and impressive Ukrainian Andriy Voronin up front - will certainly be a boost just days after Crouch was omitted from the 16 on duty at Sunderland.

That was the second such snub, as a fortnight earlier Crouch was left out of the opening-day win at Aston Villa. The only league action he has seen was against Chelsea when he was sent on after 83 minutes of the stormy Anfield clash.

Crouch has been to see Benitez about his situation following months in which he has been linked with Manchester City, Bolton, Portsmouth, Newcastle and Aston Villa. Nobody came up with the right money and, in any case, the striker would be reluctant to move to another club in this country. He would favour Spain or Italy.

Benitez has denied any problem with Crouch and insists he will always treat him fairly.

'I don't look at the strikers in a ranking of one to four,' said the Anfield boss. 'What is key to me is the understanding of the strikers with the other players, their form, the other team - I use all of those factors to decide on who to play.

'It's not a question of whether one is better than the other, because they all give the team something different.'

Benitez explained Crouch's omission from the squad at Sunderland. 'I was thinking about the game on Saturday,' he said. 'My idea is to use all the players that I have. If they are training well, and Crouch is, normally we can use them.

'We have had a conversation. But I think it was more difficult for me to explain everything when he was playing the first season and he was not scoring. I was supporting him.

'Now it is easier because everybody knows he is a good player and also that I have confidence in him. I don't take any notice of the stories. There are no problems.

'It can be difficult when you have four strikers but in a top side, if you want to fight for every trophy, you need quality.

'I understand how he feels. I try to explain my idea that I can only have 16 players on the list for games here. That is not enough when in the rest of Europe you have 18.'

Defender Sami Hyypia is set to play despite breaking his nose during the Sunderland match and will captain a Liverpool side 1-0 ahead from the first leg in the absence of injured Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.

HOW THEY LINE UP

LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Reina; Finnan, Hyypia, Agger, Arbeloa; Benayoun, Mascherano, Alonso, Riise; Crouch, Kuyt.

TOULOUSE (4-1-4-1): Douchez; Cesar, Cetto, Ilunga, Mathieu; Dieuze; Sirieix, Sissoko, Emana, Mansare; Elmander.

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany).

TV: ITV1 from 8pm (kick-off 8.05).