Benayoun earns praise
30 Sep 2007 - 12:12:23
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez had special praise for Yossi Benayoun after the Israel international grabbed the only goal of the game in the vital win at Wigan Athletic.
It looked as though the Reds would have to settle for another Premier League stalemate following their recent 0-0 draws with Portsmouth and Birmingham City until substitute Benayoun pooped up to score the all-important winner.
A relieved Benitez said: "I brought him here for these kinds of games.
"When you are trying to find a solution, you need players of creativity and quality, and Yossi gives us that.
"I am not saying he will start every game on the bench, it's just that in this instance I wanted to do different things.
"Yossi played the other night (in the Carling Cup against Reading) and I needed fresh legs, so I started with (Jermaine) Pennant.
"We created some chances and you need to take them if you want an open game.
"Because we didn't we needed to bring on players with different skills and Yossi was good, it was perfect."