Gerrard defends Benitez over gesture

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE:LIVERPOOL CAPTAIN Steven Gerrard insists Rafael Benitez is too focused on his own team to ever bother antagonising rival managers.

The Spaniard came under fire from Alex Ferguson and Sam Allardyce last week for allegedly showing “arrogance” and “contempt” – in the words of the Manchester United manager – towards his counterparts in the Premier League.

The row stemmed from an ambiguous gesture made by Benitez after Liverpool scored their second goal against Allardyce’s Blackburn in their 4-0 win on April 11th.

Sammy Lee, Benitez’ assistant, branded the criticism “sad” yesterday, and Gerrard – sitting out Liverpool’s clash with Arsenal at Anfield last night due to injury – has continued the backlash.

Rather than trying to belittle Allardyce and Rovers, the England midfielder insists Benitez was instead joking that his pre-match instructions had been utterly ignored in the build-up to Fernando Torres’ headed goal from a Xabi Alonso free-kick.

“I was sitting right behind Rafa and I can guarantee that it was in no way trying to disrespect their bench,” Gerrard said. “We had the set-pieces up on the board before the game and he’d told Xabi Alonso to do a certain free-kick.

“Xabi did the opposite but we managed to score from it, so he was basically saying ‘don’t listen to me, do your own thing’.”

Gerrard added: “You can understand why Sam’s upset but what I didn’t understand was why he didn’t speak to Rafa and Sammy Lee about it to clear it up after the game. It wouldn’t have been an issue.”

However, the different parties choose to interpret Benitez’ arm waving, Gerrard insists it will have no bearing on Liverpool’s attempt to claim the title from United.

“I don’t think it affects the team or the way you play individually – you take not much notice of it and make sure you do your own job properly,” he told Sky Sports.

“Rafa’s the type of manager to focus on his team. He’s not the type who’d get involved with another manager while the game’s going on, or disrespect anyone, he’s just so focused on making sure the team plays well.”

Meanwhile, Alan Shearer’s return to Newcastle United as manager may have failed to spark an immediate improvement in results but it is looking increasingly likely that he will extend his stay beyond the end of the season even if the Magpies are relegated.

The former Newcastle captain has steadfastly maintained he took the job for only eight games, however, there have been a series of less-than-subtle suggestions from Shearer that he would like to keep the job.

Shearer let his guard down, revealing last week that he has told the striker Mark Viduka he will look at whether to offer him a new one-year contract at the end of the season, something which would be beyond his remit if he were set to leave next month.

The club’s scouting system has also been overhauled under his guidance and Shearer confirmed transfer planning for next season is “all still happening” with him in charge.