Champions League: No Guarantee of Starting Place for Top Scorer Crouch

Some members of Liverpool's squad will sleep easy in Athens tonight, content that their place in tomorrow's line-up against Milan is assured. Yet this season's leading goalscorer will not be among them. Instead, Peter Crouch will be left to fret until around an hour before kick-off at the Olympic Stadium.

It is a frustrating scenario to which the England forward has grudgingly become accustomed. "You never know because the manager likes to chop and change, and I'd be gutted not to start," conceded Crouch. "But it's the manager's prerogative. He doesn't take you aside and explain why you might not feature, but he picks his team an hour or so before kick-off. That's when we know. It's something you have to accept. He always plays the team he feels is right for that day, no matter what the personnel are. But I feel I've got something to offer against Milan."

The notion that Crouch, a regular for his country and with seven goals in 13 European appearances behind him this term, might not confront the likes of Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta will perplex the Italians. The striker remains something of a mystery on the Continent, with concern at what his 6ft 7in frame could offer in aerial combat. Yet the worry for Crouch remains that the pacy Craig Bellamy will partner Dirk Kuyt, who has the ability to drop into midfield.

These are arguably critical times for Crouch. Liverpool will spend heavily in the summer, with a 20-goal forward a priority. "The manager is pragmatic," said the forward. "Certainly, if he has money to spend, he will use it. I don't necessarily think he needs to offload too many, but you can't rest and relax here even if you've won the Champions League. I hope I've done enough to be involved next year, but every time I go out there I try and do my best because you know that, at a club like this, there's always someone who wants to take your place.

"The manager keeps you on your toes. If he sees something in training that tells him you're not working as hard as you have been previously, he'll leave you out. It helps, to be honest. He can be quite distant from the players and is the complete opposite to [Crouch's manager at Southampton] Harry Redknapp. But you can't complain at the results Rafa has got."