Benitez calls on Gerrard to lead by example

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez has called on captain Steven Gerrard to be the standard bearer as he leads his team into “battle” in the remainder of the season.

The England midfielder returned to form in Sunday’s 3-0 home win over Sunderland having previously admitted he had failed to deliver this season.

Benitez had called for his “big names” to start setting an example for the rest of the squad and re-emphasised the point ahead of their difficult Europa League quarter-final first leg tie against Benfica in Lisbon tonight.