Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has called for calm amid the club's current run of poor form.
Liverpool boss plays down panic talk
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has called for calm amid the club's current run of poor form.
The Reds have won just two of their last seven games, but Benitez does not see the need for panic.
Positive
"This is not a time for being negative, it is a time for being positive," said Benitez.
"We are still unbeaten in the league, qualification for the Champions League depends on that and we are still also in the Carling Cup.
"We are in a better position than last year. In the Premier League we have five more points than at this stage last season, we are closer to the top of the table and with one game in hand.
"We just have to get our confidence back because we have lost it at the moment."
"At the start of the season we were playing well, with confidence and scoring goals. Now we just need to keep working hard.
"It is difficult with so many players away on international duty but we have spoken to the ones who are here and tried to analyse what has been going wrong.
"The Tottenham game was a couple of days ago now so I am still extremely disappointed with the result. We know why we did not win and that is because we didn't take our chances and then conceded two goals.
"It is difficult with the players being away but we just have to manage. We have no control over what they do for the next couple of weeks. I just hope they don't come back with any injury problems."
Injuries
Benitez is hopeful that he could soon welcome back Xabi Alonso and Daniel Agger from injury.
"Agger and Alonso are still not ready. We said six weeks for them to be out and it is getting close to that by the time the international break is over," he said.
"We will now have a two-week break for the internationals and we will see how they are after that.
"But even after that, it may not be quite the time. It could be another week or so before they can be considered after that.
"We've got to be careful and we'll have to wait and see about Xabi.
"I think he has a better chance than Agger of being back next week.
"It is too early to say anything at the moment. They are both progressing well but I'll need to speak with the physio and the doctors next week before we know what the situation is."
