Fulham's Clint Dempsey has defended the right of Rafael Benitez to field an under-strength team at Craven Cottage tomorrow. The Liverpool manager sparked a huge row after he did that last season when the American came off the bench in the penultimate game of the campaign to net the winner, a goal that saved the London club from relegation.

While Dempsey was hailed a hero, Fulham's rivals branded Benitez the villain as he had made no fewer than nine changes to the side that four days earlier had beaten Chelsea on penalties to clinch a place in the Champions League Final.

Neil Warnock, then manager of Sheffield United, still believes his side went down because Fulham faced what was effectively a Liverpool reserve team.

The Reds return to Craven Cottage at another crucial time for both clubs, with Fulham fighting to avoid the drop again while Liverpool are already eyeing up next Tuesday's Champions League semi-final against Chelsea.

With that in mind, there is a widespread belief that Benitez will again rest big names such as Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. That will leave him open to accusations he has affected the relegation battle and damaged the integrity of the Premier League. But Dempsey said today: "If you're the coach you have the right to do whatever you want. Benitez must be doing something right because he's won the Champions League and got to another final. You can't question a coach like that who has been so successful in his career.

"I can see how it would have hurt the coach of Sheffield United last season because they were in the same situation as us. But you shouldn't wait until the last bit to try to avoid relegation. You've had plenty of games to get it right."

Last season Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Javier Mascherano and Craig Bellamy were among those to be given the afternoon off as Benitez drafted in bit-part performers such as Emiliano Insua and Gabriel Paletta. The Argentine duo had barely featured for the Merseysiders that season and neither has made another appearance for the club after their dismal showings in west London that day. But Dempsey is taking nothing for granted and insists that even if Liverpool's second XI does turn up tomorrow they will have to be taken seriously.

He said: "Any team Liverpool put out is going to be a team they think they can win with. Even if you're not a first team regular there, just training day in and day out with top players is going to make you a better player. Last time, Benitez obviously thought he could still get a result with the line-up he had, and in fact we were barely able to win that game. It wasn't a walk in the park for us."

Dempsey has endured a bewildering time at Fulham since arriving from American side New England Revolution for £2million in January last year.

Since then, the 25-year-old has worked under three managers - Chris Coleman, Lawrie Sanchez and Roy Hodgson - and for most of that time the attacking central midfielder has been picked out of position either as an out-and-out forward or wide on the flanks.

Dempsey said: "I don't care if I'm played as a defender or goalie, I just want to be on the field fighting. You want to be the guy in the trenches, you want to be someone who goes in and makes a difference. That's what happened against Liverpool last season. When I was told to go on all that was in my mind was to try and help the team in any way I could. It just so happened I was able to score the goal, my first in the Premier League, that helped the club stay up. That was awesome for everybody."

At least Fulham go into the game with a new confidence after they finally ended their dreadful away record last week. The victory at Reading was Fulham's first on the road in the League in 34 attempts and revived hopes they can pull off another great escape.

Dempsey added: "There are still three games to go after this weekend. The most important thing tomorrow is that we know we have something to keep fighting for."