Angry Rafa demands more from his players

ANGRY Rafael Benitez slammed the character and attitude of his Liverpool players after they slumped to a dismal defeat at Wigan Athletic.

Hugo Rodallega's 35th-minute strike sent the Anfield outfit crashing to their first ever defeat to the Latics and delivered a huge blow to their hopes of Champions League qualification.

Liverpool never looked like gaining the victory that would have moved them back ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in to fourth place.

And Benitez pointed to an abject first-half performance as he sifted through the wreckage of a ninth league defeat of the campaign.

"The mood in the dressing room was really low," said the Spaniard. "You have to be really disappointed after a defeat. We're not happy. In the first half we didn't do anything, we gave the ball away and didn't win any first or second balls.

"It was difficult to explain. We prepared the game properly. We knew Wigan would play in a certain way.

"I think it was a fair result. We didn't play well especially in the first half, we didn't show the right attitude.

"We have to show more character if we want to be in the top four. We have to win games now and we're going to have to do it in another way than this.

"You can't guarantee a win if you don't show character and attitude."

There was some suggestion television pictures had captured captain Steven Gerrard flashing a v-sign at referee Andre Marriner after he was booked late in the game but both Benitez and club officials have played it down.

"I don't know, I was too far away," was the Liverpool manager's response.

Liverpool did improve during the second half and created some half-chances without ever testing Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.

And Benitez said: "The players showed the character in the second half, but it wasn't enough. We were playing too hurried in the second half but at least we showed better character. We worked very hard but without any game intelligence.

"We have to keep going. We have an important game on Thursday. We have to try. We had some chances today but we didn't play well. If you approach the game in that way then maybe you won't win any games.

"You have good games and bad games, but especially at this time in a crucial moment, we can do better."

Glen Johnson came on as a second-half substitute for his first appearance since damaging knee ligaments at Aston Villa in December.

And Benitez said: "The main thing is we have the players available now. We have to win. We can't have all the players back and be worse than before.

"Maybe Fernando needs more games but the team needs to give him better balls. Wigan had more desire, especially in the first half. It is difficult to name just one or two reasons why we lost."

Liverpool are facing a fine from the Football Association after receiving five bookings for the second time in their last three Premier League games.

Meanwhile, Wigan manager Roberto Martinez was understandably delighted with the win that lifts his team to 14th place, four points clear of the relegation zone.

"It was a huge win," said Martinez. "It has been coming. Too many times in football you judge performances on the result, and we've felt we've been close to getting a win in recent weeks.

"I was extremely proud of the responsibility of the players. Many people thought the new pitch would work in Liverpool's favour, but we restricted them to not many chances.

"If the players show the character they showed tonight, they can beat anyone."

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