LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has asked English referees to give his players greater protection from what he says are poor tackles.
Benitez headed back to his native Spain on Tuesday ahead of Liverpool's Champions League match away to Deportivo La Coruna.
But he did so without 14 million pound striker Djibril Cisse, who will miss the rest of the season after breaking his leg in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Blackburn.
And while Benitez said Cisse's injury was not something he had in mind, the physical nature of the English game remains a concern for the former Valencia boss.
Benitez said of Cisse: "I spoke to him yesterday (Monday) and he is comfortable and has got a positive attitude, he is already talking of being out six months and wanting to play in the final month of the season."
He added: "I have now seen the tackle and what happened. I think referees must control situations more, you can see injuries coming. In Spain you see different injuries but here it is difficult.
"When you cross the ball or shoot and you receive a tackle, it is very, very dangerous. Not in this case, but in general we need to protect the good players.
"In Spain this type of tackling, not this one situation especially, when you shoot and cross it is dangerous because you cannot stop your movement. If you receive a tackle then you can end up with a broken leg."
Xabi Alonso is a slight doubt for Liverpool with a calf injury but should be fit.
Benitez refused to say how much money he would have in the January transfer window to buy a replacement for Cisse.
"Maybe on this trip we will be able to discuss it. I believe we will be looking for someone cheap and good.
"We are not scouting just one player, we are scouting the whole market. And then we will see who is available in January."
Liverpool have been linked with Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes in recent weeks.
11/02/2004 - 16:33 GMT - AFP