More misery for Benitez’s fallen idols

IT HAS become something of a tradition that Middlesbrough save their best for the Premier League’s major movers and shakers.

On this showing, Gareth Southgate’s powers of persuasion must have been put fully to the test to convince his players that Liverpool fit into that category. They’re certainly shaking, but there’s little sign of movement.

Even Rafael Benitez, who still doggedly refuses to hoist the white flag on his side’s forlorn hopes of catching the leaders, has stopped bothering himself with developments at the rapidly disappearing summit.