Rafael Benitez appears to be losing the plot.
The Spaniard's Liverpool
side lost further ground in the Barclays Premier League
title race after drawing 1-1 at Wigan, and the Anfield boss
afterwards claimed he became ‘crazy’ in the second
half.
Benitez garbled: ‘We had control of the game in the first half
and didn’t kill it off. In the second half it was a crazy game.
'When you don’t control crazy games you don’t win points. I don’t
know what is happening.
'Actually I do know, but I can’t say anything about it. It is
just crazy. 'You can’t control what you can’t change. It could be
like this for years. 'Alex Ferguson has been here for 22 years and
you can see what it means when you have been here for so long. The
past three games have something in common I don’t like.’
Benitez refused to explain whether his anger was directed at his
players for letting slip a 41st-minute lead handed to them by Yossi
Benayoun, at referee Phil Dowd who awarded the late penalty from
which Mido equalised, or the outside influence of his old enemy,
Manchester
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
So, is Benitez losing the plot? Here's the evidence to suggest
he is:
Four draws and only one win in 2009 has seen Liverpool squander
top spot on the Premier League. And that one victory was against
Championship side Preston in the FA Cup. Liverpool are now third in
the table after League draws at Stoke, home to Merseyside rivals
and at Wigan.
THAT RANT AT FERGIE
Sparring partner: Manchester United manager Sir
Alex Ferguson
Remember, the amazing press conference where Benitez had
a pop at old foe Ferguson earlier this month?
Since his attack on Fergie, Benitez has failed to produce a win.
Meanwhile, European and world champions United have produce six
stunning victories. The latest being a thumping 5-0 rout of West
Brom.
Sir Alex has kept his cool throughout, steadily chipping away at
Liverpool's title aspirations as United march on. Here's what the
United manager said the day after Rafa's rant: 'People say every
season, it's going to be three or four teams challenging for the
title,' said Ferguson. 'But I'm of the opinion it comes down to two
teams when you enter the last month.
'Chelsea have contested the league for the last four years and I
think they have the experience to be our main rivals again. You
have to think that will count for something. It's a change for
Liverpool fans and players to even be talking about winning the
league. They haven't been able to do that for 19 years, or at least
a good few years.'
TACTICS
Dirk Kuyt has been fantastic for Benitez this season. So much so
that Juventus have expressed an interest in signing the Dutchman.
But the Liverpool boss failed to name the forward in his starting
XI at Wigan - and didn't even bring him on as a substitute until
the 75th minute at the JJB.
Best of friends: Benitez welcomes Robbie Keane to
Liverpool last summer
Hauling off Liverpool's living legend - and consistent
match-winner - Steven Gerrard five minutes from the final whistle,
when the Reds should have been pushing for a winner, was widely
seen as a mistake.
Benitez explained that his captain was tired. Why does he keep
picking Lucas? And why did he spend £20million on Robbie Keane when
he clearly doesn't rate him?
ANFIELD ANGST
Benitez's refusal to sign a new contract at Anfield has
highlighted deep division within the Liverpool hierarchy. It is
reported that the Spaniard is at loggerheads with chief
executive Rick Parry over his role in transfer policy
and influence over the club's academy.
His difficulties with American owners Tom Hicks and George
Gillett have boiled over into public attacks, including criticism
of the club's handling of the lack of contract negotiations with
Daniel Agger.
