Mascherano believes Liverpool must roll up their sleeves and produce more fighting performances similar to that which almost claimed victory at Stoke City on Saturday if they are to end the season with some reward.

“The situation is enough to get anyone down, but this team is going to keep going forward because of the spirit and history of the club,” said the Argentina international.

“It is normal that we are being criticised – we are all to blame for going out of the Champions League and FA Cup.

“We share the credit when things go well and the blame when things go badly.

“Rafa has a difficult job because this season key players are getting injured, which would upset the plans of any coach.

“Torres and Gerrard are fundamental for us and any team would miss them.”

Liverpool were denied a morale-boosting win in the Potteries by Robert Huth’s last-minute equaliser.

Goals in the 90th minute have already cost Benitez’s team a place in the Champions League knockout stage as Lyon snatched four points with strikes in added time in their two group encounters.

Reading’s 92nd-minute penalty at Anfield last week allowed them to level up their FA Cup third-round replay and then go on to win it in extra time.

And Benitez said: “We have to be better, we have to be more ‘savvy’ and control these games,” said Benitez.

“If we cannot score the second goal at least we have to manage and win these games without playing well.

“The main thing this year is we are conceding goals so we have to be stronger in defence.

“In football every week things can change and with one or two results things can be different.

“When Arsenal came here (on December 13) people were talking about them being under pressure but they won and two weeks later they are contenders and can win the title.”