Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, defended his decision to risk Fernando Torres as a second-half substitute in the Carling Cup victory over Crewe Alexandra by claiming that he was keen for the Spain forward to end his goal drought before Saturday’s derby against Everton.

Torres, who has scored only once in eight games this season, replaced David Ngog for the final 24 minutes of the third-round tie, with Liverpool leading 2-1 through Lucas Leiva’s second-half header. Torres has recently returned from a hamstring injury and his involvement appeared unnecessary with the home side in control, but Benítez insisted that the player’s goal threat was needed to put the tie beyond doubt.

“I put Torres on because we were trying to score a third goal,” Benítez said. “I knew Crewe would be going forward and that they would leave gaps for us to exploit. Does that sum up my lack of options? Not really, because we can also use Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt up front. I was just trying to give Fernando a chance to score and play well.”

Daniel Agger’s fifteenth-minute free kick had given Liverpool the lead before Michael O’Connor equalised ten minutes later. Leiva’s goal ultimately won the game, but Crewe could have sent it into extra time had Tom Pope converted a clear chance in the final minute.

Steve Holland, the Crewe first-team coach, said: “It would have been nice to see that one go in, but it was just pleasing from our point of view that we were still in a position to get something from the game with a minute to go.”