Gerrard deny rift with Benitez
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Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has brushed off talk of a rift with manager Rafa Benitez.
Gerrard's form has been criticised of late as debate rages as to whether he is at his best on the right - where Benitez wants him.
But Gerro said: "The position is not the issue. When you are a young player breaking through you want to play in your favourite position, you are desperate to get into the team.
"But I am 26 now, I have to think of the team first. If the manager needs me to do a job on the right or the left I've got to accept it.
"He knows where I'd like to play but I also understand there's a job to be done for the team and I need to do what the manager wants.
"I've heard he's said the order of priority is 'team, club, supporters, players' and I agree.
"Last season we were third in the league with 82 points - a club record - and won the FA Cup. And 75 per cent of the time I played on the right."
As for his own lack of form he added: "There's always been pressure on me since I became Liverpool captain and I can understand the criticism.
"I know I'm not playing at the standard I want to play at but I feel my best form's around the corner.
"A little fluky goal or a big performance will turn my form around. I know I'm a good player and good players have dips in form. And that is happening at the moment.
"Certain people expect me to go out every game and be man of the match and score from 30 yards. But it is impossible to do that.
"I've had a couple of dips in form in my career but this is the first since Rafa took over.
"I had a couple of dips under Gerard Houllier and came back a better player. Hopefully I'll do the same again. I know my best form is just around the corner, I can feel it coming back in training."
Gerrard's form has been criticised of late as debate rages as to whether he is at his best on the right - where Benitez wants him.
But Gerro said: "The position is not the issue. When you are a young player breaking through you want to play in your favourite position, you are desperate to get into the team.
"But I am 26 now, I have to think of the team first. If the manager needs me to do a job on the right or the left I've got to accept it.
"He knows where I'd like to play but I also understand there's a job to be done for the team and I need to do what the manager wants.
"I've heard he's said the order of priority is 'team, club, supporters, players' and I agree.
"Last season we were third in the league with 82 points - a club record - and won the FA Cup. And 75 per cent of the time I played on the right."
As for his own lack of form he added: "There's always been pressure on me since I became Liverpool captain and I can understand the criticism.
"I know I'm not playing at the standard I want to play at but I feel my best form's around the corner.
"A little fluky goal or a big performance will turn my form around. I know I'm a good player and good players have dips in form. And that is happening at the moment.
"Certain people expect me to go out every game and be man of the match and score from 30 yards. But it is impossible to do that.
"I've had a couple of dips in form in my career but this is the first since Rafa took over.
"I had a couple of dips under Gerard Houllier and came back a better player. Hopefully I'll do the same again. I know my best form is just around the corner, I can feel it coming back in training."
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