AN alleged gesture from Steven Gerrard caused a minor fuss on Monday night.

But it was the fingers being pointed by Liverpool’s players towards each other that is causing the greater consternation for Rafael Benitez.

If the desperate defeat to Wigan Athletic wasn’t bad enough, the signs coming from those responsible on the field was equally unsettling as frustration at seeing the chance of moving back into the top four slipping away resonated throughout the team.

Accusing fingers were jabbed, voices were raised, arguments ensued and heads dropped.

Dirk Kuyt, Emiliano Insua and Lucas bore the brunt, yet the stupid bookings accrued by Gerrard and Fernando Torres indicated any failings were more widespread.

So much for the much-vaunted togetherness and spirit that had seen Liverpool resuscitate their Premier League campaign with a run of just one defeat in 10 games.

For Benitez, it was a worrying development, one that prompted Wigan owner Dave Whelan to comment on the current “mess” at Anfield.

And as he prepares for tonight’s Europa League round of 16 first leg in Lille, the Liverpool manager admits his players cannot afford to allow such disharmony to linger.

“I don’t like players showing disappointment with body language, it’s not positive but each player is different,” says Benitez.

“It’s important to show leadership and bring people on board.

“It is important to show the right approach to your team-mates and we have said we want to improve this. It depends on each one and on the situation.

“Watching the highlights yesterday I could see the keeper blaming the defenders and the defenders blaming the keeper, sometimes it is part of the game. But if you see these things too much it means you are making too many mistakes.”

Suggestions Gerrard’s frustrated ‘v sign’ was aimed at referee Andre Marriner received short shrift from Benitez.

“Sometimes you move your fingers,” says the Liverpool manager. “It was nothing. We are not considering it, it was nothing.

“All the players know they have to behave on the pitch. I was more worried about the silly fouls we were giving to Wigan.”

Those silly fouls were a direct consequence of the anxiety that has crippled Liverpool ever since the poor start to the the season that has left them playing catch-up in the race for fourth place and dumped them in among Europe’s second tier.

Benitez admits to being bemused by the shortcoming, given the manner in which the Anfield outfit managed the pressure of a thrilling championship challenge last season.

“If you remember last year, we finished second with 86 points and had some games, especially at home, when we were not doing well, drawing games, and still we had anxiety, so sometimes it is part of the game and you have to manage,” says the Spaniard.

“We had pressure last year because we were close to achieving something. As a professional you have to manage, have to be calm and have to analyse things from the bench.

“But it’s always easier when things are going well. You cannot be jumping all the time if you are to find a solution to the problems. My job now is to tell the players to analyse everything and make it better next time.”