RAFA POINT FINGER AT REDS BIG EARNERS

Benitez points the finger

Rafael Benitez has suggested that some of the more established men in the side are to blame for the poor start to the season.

Speaking today, Rafa suggested it was the likes of Hyypia, Carragher and Gerrard who need to get back to top form.

"It's clear some of our more established players need to be at the top of their game.

"If you look at our formation for the game, we had the same back four, with Xabi [Alonso] in front of the defence, that has done so well for us last season.

"We had the same players there but we need to get the balance right when we are attacking because, like the Galatasaray game, we were vulnerable to counter-attacks.

"Saturday was disappointing again but for 30 minutes of the second half we played much better football, we attacked well and the crowd was really behind us.

"The problem is we are only playing like this for 30 minutes now when we know we must do this for 90.

"I said I thought it would be November before we were at our best because of a number of reasons."

At Anfield on Saturday it was clear Liverpool's problems lay down the middle with the two centre backs and two central midfielders particularly woeful.

This is a warning from ruthless Rafa, that he will not tolerate average performances from the mega-bucks players in the side indefinitely.

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