Benitez demands more from inept Reds

AN ANGRY Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has told his players they have to show more desire, determination and self-belief if they are to stand a chance of securing Champions League football next season.

A first defeat to Wigan at the DW Stadium was their ninth of the season and left the side in real danger of failing to make the top four in the Barclays Premier League.

The Spaniard was at a loss to explain just why his side were so bad during the first half against the Latics but has told his squad they cannot afford to reproduce such ineptitude.

Benitez insists Liverpool can still qualify for the Champions League but it is going to take an impressive run of results. They face Manchester United away and Chelsea at home in their remaining nine matches. It depends on us. If we don’t show we can beat teams then at the end it will be the same as the Wigan result,” he said. “When you lose you have to be disappointed but the way you lose is sometimes more important and in the first half we were just not good enough.

“I was surprised. I cannot understand it. We couldn’t afford a performance like that before and can’t now.”

Liverpool face a testing trip to Lille for tomorrow’s Europa League last-16 tie. Benitez admits they cannot afford a defeat. “We have to do it (against Lille) and I believe in the players,” he added. Midfielder Yossi Benayoun is a doubt with an ankle injury but centre-back Daniel Agger should be fit.