Rafa has the answers

Rafael Benitez has been told he "will find the answers" to Liverpool's recent slump – by the manager of the club aiming to beat the Reds tomorrow night.

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez still believes Liverpool will secure a top-four spot this season, despite their current run of form.

Sunday's defeat by Arsenal was Liverpool's sixth Premier League defeat of the season and leaves them five points adrift of fourth-placed Aston Villa.

In addition, the Merseyside giants have been eliminated from the Champions League and are not seeded for Friday's Europa League draw.

And, while Villa, Spurs and big-spending Manchester City currently have the edge on Benitez's men, Martinez does not believe it will last.

"I still feel Liverpool will finish in the top four," he said. "Look at their players. They have huge experience.

"You are not talking about young players or a young team. You are talking about Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina and Jamie Carragher.

"It is probably the most experienced group of players in world football. What is happening at the moment will not affect them."

He added: "Rafael Benitez has huge experience. He will find the answers. It is just a matter of time.

"What tends to happen in these situations is that you get a little bit of a snowball effect because, before the start of the season, expectations were really high.

"But any squad would be damaged but the number of injuries they have suffered to key players.

"The quality is there. They showed that in the first half against Arsenal yesterday. They have world-class players and they will turn the corner."

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