Steve Bruce, the Wigan manager, has voiced fears that Rafael Benitez could distort the battle for Premier League survival this weekend by resting several key Liverpool players against third-bottom Birmingham at St Andrew's on Saturday.
With Liverpool facing a decisive Champions League semi-final, second-leg against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday, Bruce expects Anfield manager Benitez to leave out a raft of leading players at Birmingham.
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Bruce, whose Wigan team can confirm their own Premier League future with victory at home to Reading on Saturday, said: "Whichever team Liverpool put out, they will be an outstanding team, but it would be nice if they put their big-hitters out against Birmingham. I doubt it will happen, but we will have to wait and see."
Benitez was widely condemned last season for fielding a virtual second-team against Fulham in the build-up to last May's Champions League final against AC Milan.
Fulham's 1-0 victory in that game proved enough for the Londoners to stay in the Premier League at the expense of Sheffield United who occupied the final relegation spot, just one point below Fulham.
Despite Bolton manager Gary Megson raising his own concerns about the make-up of Benitez's team for last Saturday's league game, also at Fulham, which Liverpool won 2-0, the Merseysiders once again lined up at Craven Cottage without a number of first-choice players.
Premier League rule E20 states that 'in every League match, each participating club shall field a full-strength team.' However, Liverpool went uncensured for fielding a weakened side at Fulham last season, despite the subsequent ramifications on the relegation battle, and Benitez is expected to draft in fringe players once again against Birmingham.
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utusanLFC :
the way they think is so simplistic. Stupid too. They really think the B-Team of LFC is not powerful enough to beat 3rd tier team of Premier League like Birmingham and Wigan? You gotta be kiddin' me!
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