Benitez not happy over Riise situation

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is unhappy with Norway's decision to pick John Arne Riise.

Riise has been sidelined since the clubs first game of the season against Sheffield United, where he picked up an ankle injury, but Norway have included him in their Euro 2008 qualifiers squad.

Benitez insists that Riise is simply not ready and doesn't believe it's fair they should have to go.

"John is not ready to play for Norway. The situation with John and Carra (Jamie Carragher) is the same. They are injured and I don't believe it's fair they should have to go with their national teams" said Benitez.

"The players understand that although the national team is important, the club, the
supporters and their team-mates are even more important at this moment.

"We have a lot of people with high expectations this season, who want us to achieve big things, but we played the most important game with some of our best players short of a month's preparation due to the World Cup.

"Now there are two qualifiers at the start of the season. It's crazy. This is not just a problem for Liverpool, but all the big clubs."