Rafa Benitez's risky decision to start Fernando Torres
and Dirk Kuyt on the bench looked like a masterstroke on Saturday
after the strikers came on late to earn a 3-2 victory at Portsmouth
which sent Liverpool top.
Liverpool's grandstand finish moved them one point clear of
Premier League champions Manchester United, at least until Sunday
when Alex Ferguson's side visit West Ham United for one of their
two games in hand.
It appeared Benitez may be left red-faced as Portsmouth led 2-1
after 84 minutes, on course for a win that could have permanently
derailed Liverpool's title bid.
However, Dutchman Kuyt blasted a shot past keeper David James
and Torres then pounced in stoppage time to bullet a header home
from Yossi Benayoun's cross.
Benitez will now cross his fingers Torres returns unscathed from
international duty next week, especially after selling striker
Robbie Keane back to Tottenham Hotspur and losing captain Steven
Gerrard to a hamstring injury in Wednesday's FA Cup replay defeat
by Everton.
"Torres, Kuyt and (fellow substitute Xabi) Alonso were really
tired," Benitez told the club's website. "We had to play extra-time
with 10 men in the FA Cup replay and then come here three days
later.
MEDICAL STAFF
"They were so tired. I talked with the medical and technical
staff and made the decision.
"It is not a gamble when you know they are tired. If you ask the
players, all of them will say they are fit, but you have to decide
based on all the information."
After Sunday's 2-0 win over Chelsea and Saturday's dramatic
victory at Fratton Park, Liverpool's bid for a first English title
since 1990 is back on track after a succession of costly draws.
"The team's mentality is very good and confidence is high and
these things will be very important for the rest of the season,"
Benitez added.
"We knew it could be difficult to stay at the top for a long
time but we are there. If we are in this position in the last month
we'll be able to fight for the title.
"Every win is crucial. We have to win almost every game. We have
won and we're trying to put pressure on them (United) but they have
experience and they know they also have to win almost every
game."