The Tinkerman tinkers again and we're still unbeaten

I love the muppets out there who are so proud of themselves by proclaiming that since we won last night, they were right by chastising Rafa for not playing Torres last Saturday. Of course, in actuality they are dead wrong. Again. Rafa played Torres as part of ten other changes to the side, which means all that bitching and moaning about Benitez' tinkering was all for naught. It was Rafa's rotation that gave us the win last night, plain and simple, but let's ignore the facts of the matter.

Aurelio made his first start of the year at left back. Arbeloa made his first start at centre back. Itandje made his first start ever for us. Finnan, who did not start against Birmingham, did so last night. The midfield had four different players starting in Leto, Sissoko, Lucas, and Benayoun, and of course, Crouch and Torres started up front, not Kuyt and Voronin. Call me crazy, but it looks like he rotated to me.

Another good point is that Torres probably wouldn't have scored a single goal if it weren't for the performances of Benayoun, Leto, Riise and Gerrard. Benayoun, as I stated in my final review, was crucial in taking the initiative and being the leader in the midfield. Let's fail to see that if it weren't for a cheeky through ball from Leto, a brilliant dribble and lay-off by Riise, and the vision of Gerrard, Torres could very well have went away goalless. The big difference between his performance and let's say Kuyt's and Voronin's from Saturday was that he did what he was paid to do, finish.

If you still don't realize that it was just a poor overall performance that earned us a draw on Saturday and not the exclusion of one single player, than I advise you to stop writing, because you're only going to continue to make a fool of yourself.