Benitez clears the air with Gerrard after derby snub

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 travelling support.

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The Spaniard claimed afterwards he had made the switch because his side needed "less passion" and the change was vindicated when the Brazilian's shot was handled by Phil Neville on the line to give Liverpool a last-minute penalty, which Dirk Kuyt duly converted.

Benitez discussed the matter with Liverpool-born Gerrard at the club's training ground in Melwood this morning and believes the midfielder's reaction was perfectly natural.

He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "When you are a manager you need to make decisions, not just think about them. You must think how you can win the game. Every player is the same for me when you are trying to win a game.

"We have talked because every player would be disappointed, especially Gerrard because it was a derby. He wanted to score the winning goal, but he is okay. After some time he'll understand that it was an idea and I was thinking about the best for the team.

"You know when you change a player he must show that he wants to play, but I think he was okay at the end."

Gerrard, who captained England during last week's defeat to Russia in Moscow, had earlier admitted he had found the decision hard to take despite victory over their derby rivals being "the most important thing".

"I'm a local lad so the derby is really important to me and I would have liked nothing better than to play the full game and to be on the pitch when we got the winner," he told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"But as it turned out I was taken off and Lucas Leiva who replaced me played a crucial role in us getting the winning goal.

"I was hurt and disappointed at being taken off because, like I said, I'm a local lad and the derby means everything to me."

Meanwhile, the Reds will attempt to get their Champions League campaign back on track against Besiktas on Wednesday after their disastrous defeat to Marseille in the last round of games left them out of the qualification spots in third, five points behind the French side.

Gerrard admits his own form has been below par of late, but believes the support of Reds fans is helping him rediscover top form.

"The way the fans got behind me was fantastic and I loved it," he said.

"I know I haven't been at my best lately but I'm doing everything I can to get back there and having that kind of backing really does make a difference.

"I'm working back towards my best and knowing the fans are behind me will definitely help me get there much quicker."