Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has reiterated that his decision to bench the "world class" Steven Gerrard is linked purely to football reasons.
The 34-year-old was omitted from the first XI for Saturday's 0-0 draw with Sunderland, having also been left out of last week's 1-0 win over Stoke City.
The Reds have a further seven games between now and January 1 - including Tuesday's crucial Champions League clash with Basel.
Consequently, Rodgers says that he is simply rotating his captain to preserve his energy for the hectic festive period ahead.
"We have a big month ahead, December is a big month, there's big games," Rodgers told reporters.
"His talent is world class but that contribution has to come around the team. It can't be up to him every single game to be the catalyst. He'll play on Tuesday [versus Basel].
"It's very hard to replace that quality. Certainly here for Liverpool it's something that we need to find, that player of that stature and that quality. He's got world-class ability and at this stage of his career it's me looking to manage that in order to play in the games."
Gerrard is believed to be close to signing an extension to his Reds contract - which expires next summer.
Shane Callaghan
