George Gillett Jr has described Liverpool’s torrid season as nothing more than a “blip”.
The club’s American co-owner has also backed Rafael Benitez, claiming the Spaniard remains one of world’s great managers.
Liverpool have lurched from crisis to crisis in the past year leaving Benitez battling to save his job amid a torrent of criticism. Last week’s FA Cup defeat by Reading plumbed new depths, with Benítez admitting that Liverpool’s situation was “really bad”.
Yet, hours before their key match against Tottenham Hotspur tonight, Gillett said: “We believe if you were to put a list together of the top five coaches, managers in the world, he would definitely be on that list for us,” Gillett said. “And we think he’s been tossed a curve ball by circumstance, injuries and so forth.
“I think that’s been a real challenge to the coach. He’s had to really make some innovations and play some players out of position and so forth. And notwithstanding that, they’ve generally played with a lot of passion. I really believe it’s a blip.”
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Benitez accepts that tonight’s match is make or break for the club’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. With the race for fourth place more competitive than in the Premier League’s recent history, even Benitez could not play down the game’s significance. Should Liverpool win, they will go within a single point of tonight’s opponents. Lose and their deficit will be stretched to seven.
“Is it make or break? Yes, clearly it is a crucial game for us,” Benitez said. “We were not playing well but then if we win we will be just one point behind. We have to do our job, especially at home.
“I think it is a different league this year because every team is losing games and dropping points. So it is very important for us to improve right now because we are so close that if we beat Tottenham we will be in the middle of the race. It’s true that we were not doing well but I think that we will be in the race until the end.
“There’s a big difference between being one point behind and seven points behind. It’s an important game for us. If Tottenham win, it will give them a buzz and a lift and they will have confidence, but if we can beat them then we’ll be in a good position. And when a team is fighting from behind it gives you more confidence.
“We just have to work hard and show the character we did at Stoke City on Saturday [when Liverpool conceded a last-minute goal to draw 1-1] and it’ll be easier to get the three points. If we can then it will be a totally different situation. We will be so close and the race will be between four teams. Like I always say, it’s a long race and we have to keep going until the end.”
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Benitez will again be without Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson and Yossi Benayoun, who are all injured, while Daniel Agger is also a doubt. Maxi Rodriguez is in line to make his first start for his new club while Ryan Babel is also in contention having apologised for revealing his displeasure from being omitted from the squad which faced Stoke on Twitter, the social networking website.
Meanwhile, Gerrard has insisted he remains committed to Liverpool and rubbished rumours that he was recently involved in a dressing room bust up with various members of the Anfield club’s backroom staff.
Gerrard has been the subject of mounting speculation in recent days, either about his own future or unfounded allegations that he was at the centre of a fracas at half time during Liverpool’s FA Cup defeat to Reading last week and the Liverpool captain has now moved to put the record straight on both issues.
“All the stories about me leaving are unfounded,” Gerrard said. “The fans can be assured that I am doing all I can to get back to top form and help Liverpool finish the season on a high.”
Gerrard was equally emphatic on the rumours of a dressing room up bust up. “I’ve heard about a dozen versions of the same rumour and they’re all as daft as each other, the midfield player added. “I’d love to know who comes up with this kind of stuff because they must have an unbelievable imagination. Nothing happened, that’s an absolute fact.
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“But if anyone thinks this nonsense unsettles either me or the club then they’re mistaken, if anything it’s brought everyone even closer together because we’ve all had a good laugh about it.
“In the time since he’s been here I’ve never had a problem with the manager or his staff, and certainly not at half time in the Reading game when I was actually receiving treatment for the injury I’d picked up during the first half. The important thing for me now is trying to get myself fit as soon as possible so I can get back to working with the manager and the team to try and improve our situation.”