Source: Liverpool_Echo
All the players are hurt by poor form, insists Liverpool FC manager Rafael Benitez
RAFAEL BENITEZ insists Liverpool's under-performing players are hurt by their current struggles.[LNB]The Merseysiders, who have won just four of their last 17 games, were hit by criticism from former striker Ian Rush this week, the Welshman claiming not enough players were smarting after last weekend's abject 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth.[LNB]Rush, who exonerated Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Jose Reina from blame, said: 'It should hurt them all, not just a few.'[LNB]But Benitez responded, saying: 'I do not accept that the players are not hurt by what is happening.[LNB]'They are working very hard to put things right. I can guarantee 100% that they are trying to win every game and they are upset when things do not go well.'[LNB]Benitez has held talks with several players - Torres and Gerrard included - to try to prompt an upturn in form ahead of the Boxing Day clash against Wolves and the trip to Aston Villa on Monday. He said: 'I have spoken to several players, not just Gerrard and Torres. They are all determined to do well, but when we concede a goal now we lose any confidence that we have acquired.[LNB]'That is my responsibility, to improve confidence. To do that I have to be positive, it is the only way. The message is very clear, we have quality in our squad and we must show that.[LNB]'We can win a run of games in a row, we have done that with these same players. That is the positive thought we must retain.[LNB]'We have talked about just why we are in this position. There were many ideas, but the main one was that Torres and Gerrard were not fit.[LNB]'They have been included in FIFA's world team this week, that shows how good they are and what they can produce. But when they are not fully fit, they cannot perform to those standards.'[LNB]He added: 'They still have some problems, so we must manage them carefully over a period of so many games in such a short space of time. We virtually have to decide on them before every game.[LNB]'And after each game we have to check them, to see how they are coping with their recoveries from injury.'[LNB]Benitez, who will be without the suspended Javier Mascherano against Wolves, is hoping the hard work carried out on the training ground will reap its reward against Mick McCarthy's men.
