Liverpool will be without captain Steven Gerrard for Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Bordeaux.
The midfielder picked up a hamstring injury during Saturday’s draw with Blackburn and the injury has not responded to treatment.
Liverpool have a big Premiership encounter with Manchester United on Sunday and Benitez may feel that resting Gerrard on Wednesday might enable him to recuperate in time for that fixture.
“Steven felt something in his hamstring after the Blackburn game and he is still feeling it,” said the Spaniard.
“We have spoken with the doctor and decided it’s not worth taking a risk with him and so he won’t be involved in Bordeaux.
“If this was the last game of the season and he needed to play then he could, but at this moment we think it’s too big a risk.
“I think it’s just a matter of an extra couple of days and then he will be fine.”
