Liverpool legend Alan Hansen believes his former club are far too reliant on Fernando Torres and Steve Gerrard. The former Anfield stalwart is also alarmed at the form of Jamie Carragher. Hansen suggests Benitez will stick with the long serving centreback, but admitted his dismal form, which contributed to Chelsea’s second goal during their Premier League defeat on Sunday, is major concern for Liverpool.
Hansen told the Telegraph: “No matter how much criticism is directed at Rafael Benítez at the end of a bad week for Liverpool, it is ultimately the players who must stand up and take responsibility.”
“They are the ones making mistakes on the pitch, not the manager, but the major problem for Liverpool is that they are far too reliant on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.”
“Gerrard bailed them out at Bolton earlier this season and Torres did the same at West Ham, but the goals and inspiration have to start coming from somewhere else.”
“If it isn't Gerrard or Torres, it is nobody.”
“Glen Johnson has made a difference since arriving from Portsmouth and Yossi Benayoun is the one player who can inject creativity in the final third, but if Benayoun was that good, Benítez would have started him against Chelsea on Sunday.”
“Just a week after beating Hull convincingly at Anfield, it is back to the drawing board for Benítez following the defeats against Fiorentina and Chelsea.”
“There are too many highs and lows and the good and bad performances are chasms apart.”
“One week they are great, the next they are abysmal, but if it continues like, there will be nothing for Liverpool this season.”
“Liverpool have never been a club to panic, so I don't believe that Benítez is under any pressure whatsoever. It is nowhere near that stage.”
“If they fail to qualify for the Champions League then that's when it becomes pressure time, but I still back Liverpool to claim a top-four spot.”
“What will worry them, though, is that they are level on points with Manchester City and Mark Hughes's team have two games in hand.”
“I don't see City as potential champions, but they are going to be a force and Liverpool have already lost three games out of eight.”
“Liverpool could still finish as champions, but they have to get back to keeping clean sheets. Whenever they are lining up to defend a set-piece, you are expecting them to concede a goal and that cannot continue.”
“Torres is terrific in the opposition box, but he is positioned on the near post when Liverpool are defending corners and he keeps on getting beaten there. That is a problem Benítez has to address.”
“Jamie Carragher is a legend at Liverpool, but he has made a bad start to the season and is making too many individual errors. Two errors led to two goals against Chelsea.”
“If that goes on, how long will Benítez stick with him?”
“Carragher has done so well for the club in the past that you have to stick with him and allow him to play through it.”
“He is too good to dismiss just like that.”
“I've seen him take on Didier Drogba in Champions League semi-finals and not give him a kick, but there are too many errors at the moment.”
“Missing out on the Champions League would be catastrophic for Liverpool, but I still see Arsenal as being in greater jeopardy of that, even though they put six past Blackburn on Sunday.”
“Liverpool just need to eradicate the highs and lows and get everything on an even keel.”
Hansen told the Telegraph: “No matter how much criticism is directed at Rafael Benítez at the end of a bad week for Liverpool, it is ultimately the players who must stand up and take responsibility.”
“They are the ones making mistakes on the pitch, not the manager, but the major problem for Liverpool is that they are far too reliant on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.”
“Gerrard bailed them out at Bolton earlier this season and Torres did the same at West Ham, but the goals and inspiration have to start coming from somewhere else.”
“If it isn't Gerrard or Torres, it is nobody.”
“Glen Johnson has made a difference since arriving from Portsmouth and Yossi Benayoun is the one player who can inject creativity in the final third, but if Benayoun was that good, Benítez would have started him against Chelsea on Sunday.”
“Just a week after beating Hull convincingly at Anfield, it is back to the drawing board for Benítez following the defeats against Fiorentina and Chelsea.”
“There are too many highs and lows and the good and bad performances are chasms apart.”
“One week they are great, the next they are abysmal, but if it continues like, there will be nothing for Liverpool this season.”
“Liverpool have never been a club to panic, so I don't believe that Benítez is under any pressure whatsoever. It is nowhere near that stage.”
“If they fail to qualify for the Champions League then that's when it becomes pressure time, but I still back Liverpool to claim a top-four spot.”
“What will worry them, though, is that they are level on points with Manchester City and Mark Hughes's team have two games in hand.”
“I don't see City as potential champions, but they are going to be a force and Liverpool have already lost three games out of eight.”
“Liverpool could still finish as champions, but they have to get back to keeping clean sheets. Whenever they are lining up to defend a set-piece, you are expecting them to concede a goal and that cannot continue.”
“Torres is terrific in the opposition box, but he is positioned on the near post when Liverpool are defending corners and he keeps on getting beaten there. That is a problem Benítez has to address.”
“Jamie Carragher is a legend at Liverpool, but he has made a bad start to the season and is making too many individual errors. Two errors led to two goals against Chelsea.”
“If that goes on, how long will Benítez stick with him?”
“Carragher has done so well for the club in the past that you have to stick with him and allow him to play through it.”
“He is too good to dismiss just like that.”
“I've seen him take on Didier Drogba in Champions League semi-finals and not give him a kick, but there are too many errors at the moment.”
“Missing out on the Champions League would be catastrophic for Liverpool, but I still see Arsenal as being in greater jeopardy of that, even though they put six past Blackburn on Sunday.”
“Liverpool just need to eradicate the highs and lows and get everything on an even keel.”
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