Difficult days at Anfield recently, eh Javier?
Yeah, it’s not been a good situation for us at the club, but we know we can put it right.

What’s gone wrong this season? You were supposed to be favourites for the title…
We need Fernando Torres and Stevie Gerrard fit. In this situation, we want to have them available because they’re key players for us.

So does that mean the rest of the squad isn’t up to it, then?
We won a lot of games last season without them. We give it our best all the time. Sometimes we can, sometimes we cannot. Now we have to show character and personality… and we must work very, very hard!

Presumably you’ve given up on your hopes of the Premier League title for this season?
No, the league is still possible. If we start to win and keep winning, anything’s possible. But we cannot afford to drop more points. We have to start winning and then not stop.

You honestly believe you can still become the champions?
In football, you never know. If you start to win games, then it can happen. We have to forget about the past and just think about the future. And do it for us, for the team, and most of all, for the supporters.

It’s not going to be easy, with Rafa Benitez under so much pressure right now…
Everyone’s talking about the manager but the truth is we are the ones who play on the pitch and we don’t play well, so it’s not his fault! He can say how to play, but on the pitch we are the ones who have to take responsibility, work harder and win some more games for him.

Especially in the Champions League, where you’re in danger of going out in the group stages!
Yeah, we need to go to Lyon next week in the Champions League and try to win there. It’s a must-win game for us. Very, very important. If we win there, then the situation will look entirely different.

So, what’s the plan?
We cannot continue thinking about how we’ve played this season, but think ahead. Like in 2007, when we needed to win the last three group games to qualify – and we did! We need to remember that. We’ve done it before, so we have to believe in ourselves and do it again.

Crisis? What Crisis?
Cheer up, Rafa! Liverpool aren’t the first Big Four club to hit the rails...

Arsenal, Mar-Apr 2004
The “Unbeatable” Gunners drew and lost to Chelsea in the Champions League, and then drew and lost to Manchester United in the league and FA Cup. Then, they found themselves 2-1 down to Liverpool…
What happened next? A stunning Thierry Henry hat-trick rescued Wenger’s team who won 4-2, and went the rest of the season unbeaten.

Chelsea, Nov 08-Jan 09
Liverpool ended an 86-game unbeaten home record. The Blues won four of their next 14, which included a draw at home to Southend and 3-0 drubbing by Man United.
What happened next? They trailed 1-0 away to The Shrimpers in an FA Cup replay, and recovered to win 4-1 and went on to lift the trophy.

Man United, Oct-Nov 1996
A 5-0 mauling to Newcastle was followed by a 6-3 loss to Southampton. Home defeats to Fenerbahçe and Chelsea left the Toon top of the Premier League.
What happened next? Fergie’s men recovered to win another title. As for Newcastle, well…