Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has fired a broadside at the ex-players brigade over his management of Fernando Torres' fitness.

Torres is carrying a groin injury, but is expected to face Birmingham City tonight.

Benitez said: "I have had many players with this problem under my management over the years. They carried on, and sometimes you can play for the whole season with such a problem.

"But I have been surprised at what some critics have said about Torres' involvement. People who have played football for years seem not to understand that the manager has more information.

"So when they are on TV, they just talk and they do not really know the situation."

And Benitez insisted: "I have enough experience to cope. I understand how our club is treated by the pundits in England, and the things that critics say and why.

"Hopefully people who do understand the game will know how difficult it is to manage a team like ours. I hope they can be more respectful and know we are trying to do our job here in a difficult situation.

"We have a lot of confidence in our team, our squad, our staff and especially our fans to understand what we are doing."