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Rafa left talking 'crazy' as Reds slip again
Andrew Hodgson29 Jan 2009
Rafael Benitez showed increasing signs of strain after his team dropped more points in the title race last night with a 1-1 draw at Wigan.
Liverpool have drawn seven of their last 10 games and have not won since their manager's public attack on Sir Alex Ferguson on 9 January.
They have now slipped to third behind Chelsea, who they face at Anfield on Sunday, and are two points behind leaders Manchester United - who also have a game in hand.
The Spaniard failed to explain after last night's game why he had taken off captain Steven Gerrard and record signing Fernando Torres and was at his cryptic best in his post-match press conference, labelling the second half "crazy" but offering no explanation for his reasoning.
"We were much better in the first half. We had control of the game. We didn't kill the game," he said.
"The second half was a crazy game and when it is a crazy game you cannot control things."
When he was pressed as to what was the crazy element of the second half Benitez refused to comment.
"No I am disappointed with a number of things but no, the Wigan approach I will not talk about them," he added.
"It has happened in the last three games. They have something in common I don't like. I know why but I cannot say anything.
"The players were okay. They were working very hard in the first half but the second half changed because it was crazy.
"I was talking with my players about what to do on the pitch but there are things that you cannot control."
Yossi Benayoun's 41st-minute goal from a narrow angle was all the visitors had to show for their efforts despite dominating most of the match.
An equaliser was almost inevitable and it duly came in the last 10 minutes when midfielder Lucas needlessly brought down substitute Jason Koumas and debutant Mido, signed on loan from Middlesbrough last week, converted the penalty.
Reader views (4)
Our team need two quality full backs, to recall Pennant from Portsmouth & to set the team out with Gerrard & Alonso in central midfield with Rierra & Pennant either side of them, up front Torres & Babel. This will give greater balance to the team. We look truly awful at present & will struggle to finish in the top four. Man Utd & Chlesea have already overtaken us & Villa are only a point behnd us. With Arshavin likely to sign for Arsenal & their injured players starting to return, they could also go past us, as they have some easier fixtures coming up. On Saturday they are at home to West Ham, whilst we play Chelsea. Assuming they win & we draw the gap will be down to 4 points.
- Rob Liverpool, Liverpool, 29/01/2009 17:24
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Yes indeed, drop Rafa, From a great height if possible.
- James Hennessy, london england, 29/01/2009 14:59
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He said on MOTD last night, after the match, "they (Wigan) were crazy - running and tackling". Priceless. I am not a Gerrard fan at all but, crikey, what is Benitez doing taking him off when it's 1-1 and they're supposedly chasing the Premiership title. Even I appreciate SG's worth to Liverpool - he is the catalyst.
John Lennon once referred to a "Spaniard in the works".
- Charlie, Nr. Crackpot, North Yorkshire, 29/01/2009 13:46
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he hits out at crazy second half? I hit out at our crazy manager! he is the reason and if we would not have won the CL in 2005 Rafa would have been fired long time ago. Let's face it - we need to move on, finally, and get a new manager. And I refuse to listen to all those people who constantly argued that we have to be thankful as we are the leaders in the title race... first: we are NOT leading anymore. second: we did by far NOT play our best season so far. almost every game was won only barely and this season a much smaller amount of points will be sufficient to win the title than it was the case in the last decade.
There have already been founded some groups in the internet - "Pro LFC - Contra Rafa Benitez"... This is certainly speaking for itself! DROP RAFA!!!!
- A.W., 'pool, 29/01/2009 10:27
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