Source: Daily_Mail
Rafa rocked: Reading's dramatic win puts Liverpool boss Benitez on brink
Unfazed: Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez[LNB]Rafa Benitez shrugged aside fears over his Liverpool future last night and refused to concede that his Anfield days are numbered.[LNB]Bundled out of the FA Cup in humiliating circumstances as Championship strugglers Reading pulled off a deserved 2-1 third-round replay upset, Benitez had to contend with boos and abuse from a disgruntled 31,000 crowd.[LNB]But the Liverpool manager said: 'For three months, everyone has been talking about me, so I should not be surprised if I find myposition in the spotlight again.[LNB]'I just have to keep moving forward and working hard. How do I cope with the talking and the pressure? I try to do the best I can.'[LNB]Having already suffered an early exit from the Champions League and seen his side fall behind in the race for a top-four finish in the Barclays Premier League, Benitez is facing the gravest crisis of his five-and-a-half year tenure.[LNB]Injuries that could rule out Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres at Stoke on Saturday threaten to increase the pressure, but he remained defiant as he reflected on a Reading equaliser in injury time and winner by substitute Shane Long in extra time.[LNB]'It just showed that it doesn't matter if you play a strong team. These things can happen. At the end, as manager, you have to be disappointed but then make sure you move forward and start thinking about the next game.[LNB]'From the pre-season onwards, we have been a little bit frustrated with the way things have gone, but we have to carry on and put things right as quickly as possible.[LNB]'But it is clear the players are very disappointed and the mood very despondentin the dressing room.[LNB] Royals flushed: Sigurdsson, Brian Howard and Simon Church (right) celebrate[LNB]'I have a big job to repair spirits before the Stoke game. Iit will be difficult, and it doesn't help that we have problems with Torres and Gerrard, as well as Yossi Benayoun, who has some pain in his ribs.[LNB]'Is this turning into a disastrous season? Iit's not the best, that's for sure. Sometimes you have bad moments and sometimes better ones. We are going through a bad time, but we have to carry on.[LNB]'There were a lot of things Ii didn't like. We were winnnig after 91 minutes but then wemade some mistakes. What didn't like? It's better not to say too much.'[LNB]Reading's caretaker-manager Brian McDermott could not have wished for a better job application as the Cup reached the fourth round stage without Liverpool or Manchester United for the first time in 50 years.[LNB]Liverpool have now lost 10 of their last 20 games but McDermott was more concerned with his side's heroics.[LNB]He said: 'Ii'm delighted for the chairman (John Madejski) and everyone connected with the club. The chairman has been down to the dressing room and is bouncing off the walls. He hasn't mentioned the job so far, but he knows Ii want it and hopefully nights like this can only help.'[LNB] Liverpool 1 Reading 2 (after extra-time, score at 90 mins 1-1): Long way back for Rafa - Torres and Gerrard limp off as Reds are dumped out of Cup Liverpool 1 Reading 2: Surely manager Rafa Benitez must now goMaxi Rodriguez signs for Liverpool: We'll get the best out of winger, says Rafa BenitezLIVERPOOL FC
