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Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has claimed striker Djibril Cissé was not being punished, but was merely dropped for Wednesday’s match against Sunderland.
Neither injured, nor suspended Cissé was left off the teamsheet for the first time this season prompting speculation that the former Auxerre star was the victim of internal punishment for his petulent reaction to being substituted in the Reds' last game against Manchester City.
“No - there's no problem, no reason, only a big squad and a lot of games,” said the former Valencia boss.
“We've a big squad and a lot of games - you need to use the players you have.”
Benitez had said before the Sunderland game, won 2-0 by Liverpool that he would not tolerate players contesting his decisions.
“I have to make the decisions because I’m the manager,” he said.
“I decide who is the best player for any given match and sometimes I have to change players during a match.
“At any rate, it is my decision.”
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