Leave Rafa alone! Liverpool players must shoulder blame, blasts Gerrard

23 December 2009 16:27
Steven Gerrard has followed his Liverpool team-mate Fernando Torres by insisting the Reds' dismal season so far is the fault of the players, not manager Rafa Benitez.[LNB]Anfield skipper Gerrard has called on his fellow players to take responsibility for their side's slump - which has seen Liverpool languishing in eighth place in the Premier League and dumped out of the Champions League - and not hide behind under-fire boss Benitez.[LNB]He told The Sun: 'The players and the manager are all in it together. Obviously the managers carry the can for the whole team because they're the boss but we're all responsible for what's going on. [LNB] Anguish: Steven Gerrard is frustrated with Liverpool's dismal season so far[LNB]Stand up and be counted: Fernando Torres and Gerrard have both backed boss Rafa Benitez[LNB]'We all need to step up. I don't think it's right to pick out individual players. We're a team and we are responsible for where we're lying in the league at the moment. All of us have got to stick together and try to turn it around.'[LNB] [LNB]The Reds' defeat at Portsmouth last weekend was their seventh already this term, their American owners are under pressure to cut their £240million debt, and they are out of Europe's top cup competition before the knockout stages.[LNB]They are also facing a £20m cut in income if they fail to qualify for the Champions League next season - and they are eight points away from fourth-placed Aston Villa.[LNB]Gerrard added: 'After a defeat it's always difficult. We love playing football and we love winning. It's the opposite when you get beat, everyone's down. But we need to look forward to the next game and put it right as soon as possible.'[LNB]  Gerrard also revealed he has not started to doubt Benitez's ability, despite Liverpool's poor form. He said: 'He's a top manager. He's a man and he'll take it on the chin. He'll be trying his best and working even harder to try to do a better job.' [LNB]Anfield hot-shot Torres has also said that Liverpool's players should take responsibility for their current predicament rather than manager Benitez.[LNB]He said: 'I think sacking the manager is not a solution. The manageris not playing so we have to be positive with him, try to work with him.[LNB]'Weare the main reason, the players are the persons that have to find asolution to the situation. The manager is not playing, so we have toplay much better.'[LNB] Liverpool star Torres laments: We simply can't afford the best playersGerrard cannot take much more of the deepening crisis at LiverpoolSecond-best Manchester City sack the boss, rock-bottom Liverpool persist with Rafa while Spurs top the Premier League improvement tableLIVERPOOL FC

Source: Daily_Mail