Rafa: I'm right about Gerrard

Rafa Benitez has no doubts that Steven Gerrard can still be effective on the right.

Rafa Benitez insists he has no doubts that Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard can continue to be effective on the right of midfield.

Gerrard spent the bulk of last term operating from the flank and it has been a similar story during the opening weeks of the new campaign.

Some have questioned whether the England international's talents are being wasted when he could be deployed in central midfield.

But Reds boss Benitez has hit back at the critics and feels Gerrard's form last season proved the merits of playing the skipper on the right.

"We know he can play in the middle, but, if the team needs him to play left or right, he accepts it," said Benitez. "He is the captain.

"I'd agree he is not a winger. But, then again, he is not playing as one.

"Yes, he is a central midfielder, but you need to find the balance and cutting inside and going for goal creates chances.

"He's been here for eight years and what was his best season? The last one, when he got 23 goals from playing on the right.

"If the risk of playing him on the right is 23 a season, I'll take it."

Benitez also insists he is not concerned by summer signing Dirk Kuyt's failure to score in four Liverpool appearances.

He added: "Dirk gets around 20 goals a season, but I've not spoken to him about scoring because I know he will."