It is always the big men who take the credit. Much of the focus after last Tuesday’s win over Inter Milan was how the introduction of Peter Crouch changed the complexion of the game, with his height providing an additional dimension to Liverpool’s play.

Which, in all honesty, it did especially as the Inter defenders didn’t know how to react. Crouch not only had the liberty to head the ball with ease but he was given much more time to control it than he normally is in the Premiership.

Yet, another substitute’s pivotal introduction was all but overlooked. It was Jermaine Pennant who provided the cross for Liverpool’s first goal and it was the same player who went for the simple pass to Steven Gerrard from which the Liverpool captain scored.

Four days later, however, and not only had Pennant’s contribution gone largely un-noticed but he didn’t even make it on to Liverpool’s bench for the game against Middlesbrough.

It has been that kind of year for Pennant.

At the start of the season he had been playing extremely well, kicking on from the Champions League final where he probably was the best player on the pitch. His form prompted Rafael Benitez to express his amazement at how the player had been overlooked by England despite an apparent lack of alternatives.

Then came an injury in Turkey against Besiktas and suddenly Pennant was back to the starting point. Recovery was painfully slow and, despite returning at the start of January, he’s been struggling to get into the side.

Whether that is down to lack of match fitness or Benitez’s own choice is as yet unclear although you would suspect that it is the latter.

It is a somewhat surprising choice given that when he plays Pennant can offer something that is normally lacking from Liverpool’s play: threat from out wide.

Is Pennant good enough to be a regular for a title winning side? Probably not, but he is good enough to be a valuable squad player in a team looking to win the championship and probably the best winger that Liverpool have at the moment.

Against Inter, Pennant proved as much but instead Benitez is favouring Dirk Kuyt to play there, perhaps getting greater confidence by the Dutchman’s work rate than Pennant’s unpredictability.

In a sense, it has been a wise decision seeing that it has allowed Kuyt to slowly get his confidence back, yet it is also taxing the team’s attacking instinct. For, while Kuyt can send in accurate crosses, he doesn’t have Pennant’s speed or his ability to get round players.

Having improved immeasurably since joining the club two summers ago, the current situation must be hard on Pennant. Yet all he can do right now is patiently wait for his next chance and hope that this time his contribution does get noticed enough to ensure Benitez’s confidence.