no support for rafa from either carra or stevie

[Nicey]

yeah track his ip adress and blow up his house please

[disco]

Do you think that the reason for Stevie G and Carra's reluctance to come out and support Rafa over recent months....is because they were actually told of Hicks + Gillett's intentions to look for another manager?

I can't help but think this must be the case....!

The whole thing stinks!

or are even unhappy with how they're instructed to play etc. etc.

It's possible. Heard stupider things today.

[machiavelli]

You called!

[Matt]

You called!

[geoxf]

You called!

so...what's the real truth?

[Armchairkopite]

He isn't just a senior player, Stevie is our captain and should speak up on and off the pitch.

[macca_82]

The only way the players can support rafa is by looking like they actually give a toss when they play. Too many players have been going through the motions recently and it's about time they made an effort to turn things around on the pitch.

I don't care what any off them have got to say. As long as they put in 110% every week and prove they are proud to play for the club that will do for me.

[Bender]

Defender Jamie Carragher, set to play his 500th game for the Reds on Tuesday, says it is a shame the club's recent problems have taken up so many column inches.

"The sooner we are out of the press the better because it's not the Liverpool way. The quicker that happens the better," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Maybe it is difficult when you talk about the Liverpool way as it was a lot different 20-30 years ago with the press invasion now, where things get blown out of proportion.

"That's something that we would like to try to get back to and that's not just me but I'm sure everyone involved with the football club is desperate to get back to talking about football.

"I've got a great relationship with the manager but as players you've just got to do your job and not let other things affect you.

"You have got to be strong mentally to play for Liverpool because there is always speculation, not just regarding the manager but your own position too."

[Jakey]

I'd rather they played for themselves and their team mates and show a bit of professional pride.

The majority of them were just going through the motions against Boro. Only Torres and JC looked up for the fight.

[Gazmo1]

www.jackanory1892.co.uk, **** me.

Talk about conjecture.

[Fowler_God]

It wouldnt surprise me if the keep quiet order came from Rafa himself. He wouldnt want the players being caught up in this. They can concentrate on playing, while us and Rafa fight for the club

[steveheighwayrobbery]

I dont think Stevie would be sad to see Rafa leave.

for the record, I would

[Riddler]

Dont forget Stevie has never been praised by Rafa .

[Shaggy]

Dont forget Stevie has never been praised by Rafa .

For starters...

“Gerrard is a fantastic player, there is no doubt about this but you are playing the game and you need to take decisions to win the game.

Rafael Benitez has reiterated his belief that Steven Gerrard is a better player than Frank Lampard.

The two talented midfield men come face to face at Stamford Bridge tomorrow as Liverpool aim to cut the gap on league leaders Chelsea.

Lampard goes into the crucial game as the newly crowned England player of the season, narrowly pipping Gerrard, but Benitez is in no doubt about which player he would rather have in his side.

"You look at Steven and what he has done for us this season, to have scored 17 goals for Liverpool, that is just fantastic," says the Reds boss.

"I don't know how important Lampard is for Mourinho, but Gerrard is the key for us. People compare the two players and they say that Lampard scores more goals and he plays more games.

"But to score 17 goals for a team like Liverpool that scores far less than Chelsea, that shows Gerrard really is the key player.

"Lampard is a very good player but he has very many good players - very expensive players - around him at all times," said the Anfield coach.

"Sometimes Chelsea have such dominance that they can coast through games - they find it easier at times to win matches.

"So people say that Lampard plays so many games, but when you are winning two or three-nil with plenty of time to go, then it is easier to manage that game, to rest in the contest.

"We don't have that luxury and it means our players get harder matches. Gerrard has to play hard through many matches but he is still offering so much to us every game."