Rafa to name strong side

Last updated : 09 January 2007 By Al Campbell
After being knocked out of the FA Cup on Saturday Rafa Benitez admitted he was set to name a strong side for tonight's Carling Cup quarter final against Arsenal.

"It's a risk, but we will have to look at maybe making a few changes to the team I originally had in my head for the match," said the Spaniard.

"You have to assess how they react physically and talk with them, because we know it is more important to stay in the Carling Cup now.

"When you bring out players for games like this you know it is a risk, because they can get injured when they don't have the rest time, and we also have to think of the big games we have coming up.

"We have to keep in contention in the Premiership and the Champions League as well, so that's a factor. But at the same time, maybe we don't have the options in midfield because we have players injured, so we might have to take the risk."