Stephen Warnock glad Crouch wasn’t used from start

Nov 5 2007 by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post

STEPHEN WARNOCK revealed the relief he and his fellow Blackburn Rovers defenders felt at not having to face Peter Crouch from the start.

Warnock, who left Anfield for Ewood Park last season, admitted Rovers faced a much more difficult task to keep Liverpool at bay when his former team-mate entered as a 72nd-minute substitute.

The introduction of Crouch and Harry Kewell sparked Liverpool into life in the final third but it was too late to force a winner.

“It certainly made it more difficult for us,” said ex-Liverpool left-back Warnock. “They went more direct with Crouchy and it seemed to suit them.

“Crouchy is a great player. He’s one of those that almost any team would love to have in their starting line-up. But they seem to use him in a different way and the manager there seems to think that works for him.

“But he’s a real asset when he comes on and it must be frustrating for him when he’s not starting – as I know only too well!”

Warnock also confessed that Rovers now being a point and two places above Liverpool in the Premier League table is beyond what he expected when he left Anfield for more regular first team football last January.

“I was probably a bit more nervous than I am for most games because it was Liverpool and I was so keen to do well,” said Warnock after facing his former club for the first time. “A couple of the coaching staff said to me before the game told me I had nothing to prove because I’ve already shown in the time I’ve been here that I deserve to be at this level.

“It’s nice to be above them and it’s very pleasing for me to be in that position.

“When you come away from a club like Liverpool you almost feel like the only way is down. But here I am above them and hopefully we can stay there. It would be a great thing for me and the team.”

Liverpool ended a run of seven straight wins for Rovers, who go to Manchester United this weekend.

But manager Mark Hughes reckons that being in the top five and securing a third successive draw in games against the ‘big four’ this season proves his team are a force to be reckoned with.

“We’re delighted we have come through this period and shown we can compete against the best teams in the league,” said Hughes.

“Whether we can sustain it only time will tell but we are in good shape. It’s a reflection of how far we’ve come.”

Hughes also backed rival manger Rafael Benitez in his decision to save Peter Crouch for the final stages. He added: “A lot of teams throw on big guys towards the end of games and it can affect them in a positive way. So I think that was his thinking.

“We have certain players we think are impact players and some have a better impact from the bench. Liverpool have got a big squad and players have to accept the decisions of the manager.”