Benitez clears the air with 'hurt' Gerrard

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has today cleared the air with Steven Gerrard over replacing him in Saturday’s Merseyside derby after the midfielder had declared he was “hurt and disappointed” by the decision.

With 20 minutes left at Goodison Park and the clash finely poised at 1-1, the Reds manager controversially replaced his skipper with Lucas Leiva – much to the surprise of Gerrard and the Liverpool supporters.