Rafa Benitez facing toughest decision of his career over Torres and Gerrard

Rafael Benitez will make one of the biggest decisions of his managerial career this morning as he decides whether to risk Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres against Birmingham.

The under-fire Liverpool manager knows that defeat in what has become a high stakes showdown this evening will put him under almost unbearable pressure, leading into the international break.

Benitez wants to avoid a fortnight of speculation over his future by fielding his two most important players tonight, despite accepting that neither is anywhere near full fitness.

Both players were named in the provisional squad to face Birmingham yesterday, but the Anfield boss indicated that he would leave his decision until the last possible moment to give him the optimum amount of time to deliberate.

It is a massive decision, because if it backfires then he will be vilified, and find himself under siege at the Merseyside club.

Benitez wants both players to appear, even though Torres has been advised by one of the world's top sports injury specialists to rest for a minimum of three weeks, in an attempt to cure the 'sportsman's hernia' injury that has crippled him in recent weeks.

Gerrard too, is a long way from full fitness, with the manager explaining on Saturday that his skipper could not possibly play in England's friendly against Brazil next weekend, because "he is not fit, and you can not pick players who aren't 100 per cent fit".

But that is precisely what the Reds boss is considering doing, as he goes for broke in search of the victory that he believes can resurrect his side's season.

It is, though, a major risk. Torres has been told to rest to avoid surgery that will keep him out for at least a month, and could sideline the Spanish star for three months, if a more traditional operation is required, and the obvious inference is that playing now could worsen the situation.

Gerrard too, has not yet recovered from the groin problem he picked up on international duty a month ago, and logic would suggest that the extra two weeks rest over the upcoming break would allow him more time to attain the fitness levels Benitez claims he has yet to reach.

If either player were injured after being risked in search of short-term gain, then Benitez would face even more intense criticism than he already been forced to endure after his side's disappointing start to the season.

But Benitez insisted last night that he must ignore outside influences and his own position, as he makes the decision which will help his club both in the short and long term.

"I know I will be criticised whatever decision I make, but in the end it's a medical decision rather than the manager saying we need this or we need that," he countered.

"We have to do the best for the players and the best for the team and at this moment the priority is to have the players for a long time and do the right thing."

Benitez is determined not to allow the controversy surrounding the fitness of Gerrard and Torres - and the claims of their countries during the international break - to deter from the task in hand, which is to win tonight.

And he defiantly argued that the identity of the player in question doesn't matter to him - he has to do the right thing to ensure Liverpool earn three crucially important points.

"The priority, as it was before, is to win against Birmingham. It doesn't matter if it is Torres or Voronin, Gerrard or Kyrgiakos, it doesn't change anything. We have to think about what is best for the win," he explained.

"Expectations are really high and it has to be like this. When we were winning games in a row, everyone was thinking maybe it will be this year, and then we were losing and everyone said it would be very difficult if not impossible.

"The main thing for me is to keep the team working as hard as they are now and maybe have a little bit more luck in the last minute and then if we can win one or two games it will be totally different and maybe we will be talking about another target."

Benitez at least has some good news on the injury front, with Albert Riera and Fabio Aurelio back in training, and Glen Johnson also a possible starter, after training yesterday, while Martin Skrtel and Alberto Aquilani are pressing to be included.

Jamie Carragher and Philipp Degen are suspended, but Benitez will have more options, and he may give Aquilani his first start, while putting both Gerrard and Torres on the bench in case of emergencies.

Possible team: Reina; Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Insua; Mascherano, Lucas; Benayoun, Aquilani, Babel; Kuyt.