Rafa Benitez: Forget Moscow misery

Oct 19 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

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RAFAEL BENITEZ believes misfiring Steven Gerrard has the mental strength to banish his Moscow misery against Everton tomorrow.

The Liverpool skipper was part of the England team that saw Euro 2008 qualification slip out of their own hands with a 2-1 defeat in Russia on Wednesday.

Gerrard, leading the national side in the absence of injured John Terry, has been criticised for missing a chance to make it 2-0 early in the second half and effectively seal the game for Steve McClaren’s men.

Benitez admits he will take time before tomorrow’s Goodison derby to speak to Gerrard, who has suffered indifferent form since rushing back to action following his broken toe last month. But the Liverpool manager is confident the midfielder will make no mistake should a similar chance fall his way at Goodison tomorrow.

“Steven has experience and character,” said the Spaniard. “If he has another chance like that, I am sure he will score from it. All the players need help at times but I think that Steven has enough character.

“But for sure, I will speak with him and we will talk about this and I will see how his mentality is, but I think he will be okay.”

Gerrard’s below-par displays have coincided with an indif-ferent series of displays from Liverpool that has seen them win just two of their last seven games.

But Benitez believes the dip in form cannot be attributed to an individual and is instead symptomatic of collective failings through the squad.

“It’s difficult to analyse just one player,” said Benitez. “The team is not playing well and Gerrard is one of these players. You could see the other day against Tottenham that Gerrard, Carra, Hyypia and other players weren’t playing well. It’s difficult to say just one isn’t playing well.

“Steve needs to keep working and you could see the other day during the game that he was working hard. The team is working hard so we need to improve tactically and we need to improve our confidence.”

Benitez’s options for tomorrow could by bolstered by the availability of a number of key players that have been struggling with injury in recent weeks.

Fernando Torres is considered “very, very close” to making his first derby

appearance as he recovers from the muscle problem that forced him out of Spain’s international double header earlier this week.

Xabi Alonso remains “50-50” after missing the last month with a broken metatarsal, while Dirk Kuyt is fighting to overcome a hamstring strain.

“Torres is really close, he wants to play, he was training with the ball yesterday,” said Benitez. “It could be a risk, it’s not a very dangerous injury. He could feel something, but we will decide. We have two more training sessions and we’ll then see.

“We spoke to the Spanish federation and wanted him back as soon as possible. Now, with him and the other players, Fabio Aurelio, Kewell, Kuyt and Xabi Alonso, all were training and all of them are very, very close.

Benitez, meanwhile, has passed on his sympathies to former Liverpool backroom members Sammy Lee and Frank McParland, who this week left their respective positions of manager and general manager.

“I have a good relationship with Sammy Lee and I have said to both him and Frank McParland that I was sorry, and that it’s too soon for them to be sacked,” he said. “You must give time to a new manager. Everything is going too fast now in football.”

Benitez also distanced himself from reports the pair would make an immediate return to the Anfield coaching staff.