The Spaniard is trying to make sure everyone at Anfield realises his entire squad will need to be at the very top of their game if Chelsea are to be overcome in the Champions League semi-finals.

The first leg is at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, against a team who have gone 21 matches unbeaten now since they lost at Anfield in January, and who believe they have a very real chance of winning four trophies this season.

Benitez and Liverpool have other ideas, and - having beaten Chelsea three times in their last four meetings - Jose Mourinho knows he faces a war of attrition in West London next week, and then at Anfield the following week.

And in the midst of all the hype and mind games, Benitez wants to show to the world that he thinks as much of the lesser lights in his squad as he does Gerrard, who has scored 11 goals this season and is approaching his best form.

Benitez explained: "I want to give credit to other players, Steven played well in midweek and scored two, but Javier Mascherano has been excellent and I also want to underline how important Mohamed Sissoko is to us.

"He was the key player in the win over Barcelona, and it is important for me to support players who always give 100%.

"When you play alongside Gerrard it is likely that you may not get the credit you deserve, but for me as manager it is important to know that these players are always there, and will be important for the rest of the season."

Where he utilises Gerrard at Stamford Bridge is always open to debate. Whether it be in the Scouser's favoured central midfield role or on the right, with a licence to roam.

Benitez continued: "I know Steven likes to play in the middle, he can be very good there, and he can be very good on the right.

"We always need to find a balance, it is not a question of one player, it is a question of one team."

And that one remark underlines everything you need to know about Benitez's philosophy about football.

Whenever he is asked to praise Gerrard, he shies away from the question and talks in general terms about the team.

But he knows that it is only a 100% team effort which will overcome Chelsea in their current powerful form.

Benitez said: "The players know everyone will talk about Gerrard because he is top class, but others are important and it is good to see new players doing well.

"I have an intelligent squad of players, they know Steven will get all the praise, but that sometimes leaves them the time to do their job properly.

"It is the same with all big clubs. At Manchester United all the talk is always of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. At Chelsea everyone speaks only of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard, at Arsenal it is always Thierry Henry.

"People rarely talk of the rest of the team. But players always know and understand that in each team there is a star, an icon for the club. But they know that it is more than that.

"It means people are not under pressure because they know they will not be talked about. But it gives them time to work and improve themselves."

Benitez takes some of the blame for exposing Sissoko, not long over his damaged shoulder, to an experimental role which clearly did not work against Middlesbrough in midweek.

He explained: "I was trying something different with Mascherano behind Gerrard and Sissoko. But it was difficult for Momo working in such a tight space, the game was very narrow.

"I was testing whether it was a good idea, but now I know more about my players. Momo was playing as an offensive midfielder, which is not his best role.

"I have yet to decide who plays in midfield against Chelsea, or the attack. But I know we will need all the squad at Chelsea, where Momo will do the dirty job and Gerrard will be the star."