Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is urging Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso to raise his game.
Rafa Benitez has explained why he left Xabi Alonso out of the Liverpool squad for Saturday evening's 3-0 victory over Sunderland. Alonso did not not even make the bench for the Reds' first League win of 2008.
Benitez had Javier Mascherano back from suspension and paired him with captain Steven Gerrard in central midfield, bringing in Brazilian Lucas for a rare start.
And the Liverpool boss urged Alonso to improve his level of performance if he wants to reclaim his place.
Alonso was dropped after playing the full 90 minutes against West Ham last Wednesday, when Liverpool lost 0-1.
"Xabi needs to step it up. When you are not 100% fit, you want to play every game because you need to play more games to build up your fitness,” Benitez told Liverpool's official website.
"But if Gerrard, Mascherano or Lucas are playing well, it means there is competition for places which is good for the team.
"Xabi knows he needs to work harder if he wants to have a place in the team.
"Mascherano was back from suspension and he gives us balance in the middle and Gerrard can be more free going forward.
"Lucas was playing really well the other day so we had three midfielders, and we needed to have wingers or strikers on the bench. That's why Alonso was not in the squad on Saturday."
Rafa Benitez has explained why he left Xabi Alonso out of the Liverpool squad for Saturday evening's 3-0 victory over Sunderland. Alonso did not not even make the bench for the Reds' first League win of 2008.
Benitez had Javier Mascherano back from suspension and paired him with captain Steven Gerrard in central midfield, bringing in Brazilian Lucas for a rare start.
And the Liverpool boss urged Alonso to improve his level of performance if he wants to reclaim his place.
Alonso was dropped after playing the full 90 minutes against West Ham last Wednesday, when Liverpool lost 0-1.
"Xabi needs to step it up. When you are not 100% fit, you want to play every game because you need to play more games to build up your fitness,” Benitez told Liverpool's official website.
"But if Gerrard, Mascherano or Lucas are playing well, it means there is competition for places which is good for the team.
"Xabi knows he needs to work harder if he wants to have a place in the team.
"Mascherano was back from suspension and he gives us balance in the middle and Gerrard can be more free going forward.
"Lucas was playing really well the other day so we had three midfielders, and we needed to have wingers or strikers on the bench. That's why Alonso was not in the squad on Saturday."
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