That's not fair. Benitez has really improved that side of Liverpool's game (at least outside of CL ties with far superior sides!). Crouch is no more indicative of long ball tactics than Trezeguet is. He's not that good in the air at all.
liverpool should have been forced to play the best teams and qualify for the CL. poor everton who deserve CL football more than liverpool having to play villareal is unfair.