RAFAEL BENITEZ has been told he “will find the answers” to Liverpool’s alarming slump this season – by the manager of the club aiming to increase his misery tomorrow night.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez brings his side to Anfield hoping to build on a battling 2-2 draw at Stoke last weekend, when the Latics even missed a last minute penalty kick. But the Spanish manager is confident his compatriot will turn the situation around at Anfield.

“Rafael Benitez has huge experience,” Martinez said. “He has been in this situation many times before and he will find the answers. It is just a matter of time. What tends to happen in these situations is that you get a little bit of a snowball effect because, before the start of the season, expectations were really high, but any squad would be damaged by the number of injuries they have suffered to key players.

“The quality is there. They showed that in the first half against Arsenal on Sunday. They have world-class players and they will turn the corner. I have no doubts about it.”

Regarding Liverpool’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League – they face stiff competition from Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City – Martinez said: “I still feel Liverpool will finish in the top four. Look at their players. They have huge experience.

“You are not talking about young players or a young team. You are talking about Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina, and Jamie Carragher.

“It is probably the most experienced group of players in world football. What is happening at the moment will not affect them.”

Benitez has pleaded with his players to show backbone tomorrow night. With the visit of Wigan assuming the significance of a must-win match, Benitez called for unity and character from his shattered players.

“We were in control in the first-half and on top of them all the time,” he explained.

“But after we conceded the own goal everything changed, it was their time then and every minute they had more confidence and we were more nervous. The main thing now is that we have to show confidence, we have to show character.