Benitez backs `injury free` Liverpool to bag fourth place in Premiere League

London: Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez reckons the injury woes, which blew his team`s season apart, could be the crucial factor in their charge for a Champions League finish.

Liverpool crashed out of contention for all major trophies, as stars Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Fernando Torres were unavailable for vast chunks of the opening six months of the season due to injuries. All three key men are available again, and Benitez is convinced that it will be a major factor in winning the race for fourth place in the Premier League and in the Europa League. "If we don`t have any other problems now, then it could be that the injuries earlier in the season could work in our favour. We could have players who are fitter, fresher and have more energy, over the final few weeks," The Sun quoted Benitez, as saying."This year we haven`t changed the team around too much, apart from through injuries, and so hopefully the ones coming back mean we can keep fresh legs until the end," he added. Benitez however believes that he has to be careful with them, particularly Torres, who may aggravate their injury if pushed hard. "With Fernando - a player who`s been injured for a long time - if you push them too hard it is dangerous and if you don`t they struggle for match fitness, so you have to manage it carefully," Benitez said. ANI