Rafael Benitez has told Xabi Alonso to step up his game if he wants to reclaim his place in the heart of Liverpool's midfield.
After playing all 90 minutes of the Reds' defeat to West Ham last Wednesday, Alonso failed to even make the bench for Saturday's visit of Sunderland as Benitez instead opted to pair Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano in the middle.
With Brazilian youngster Lucas also impressing over recent weeks, the Liverpool manager has urged Alonso to improve if he wants to get back into the team.
Benitez said: "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.
"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 we 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."
Benitez opted to partner Peter Crouch with Fernando Torres on Saturday in a move which was ultimately rewarded as both strikers found their way onto the scoresheet.
"We knew that it could be a good partnership. One is good in the air the other one is quick. It was a good option for us today," added the manager.
"I like to use all the players I have in my squad and for this game, we knew that we could play long balls to the strikers.
"But I don't think people are fair on Kuyt, he does a fantastic job for the team and the question is finding the balance between them. This game was good for Crouch and another game might be good for Kuyt.
"We used Crouch and Torres because we knew how Sunderland would mark in defence. They were both playing high, but Torres was sometimes playing between the lines."
He added: "It's good to be able to talk about football again. As a manager you want to do that. If you score three goals and keep a clean sheet then that's the way forward.
"We were talking before about the fans and how we must give them something back. They were patient and as soon as we scored you could see their celebrations. We were all together. They are fantastic and maybe it can be the same every game now and we can give them more goals.
"The players are happier and everyone is pushing together. The commitment of all the team was fantastic.
"The aim was just to keep try to keep going and score the first goal, and after that try to kill the game with the second goal.
"It was important to get the three points. A lot of times we have been playing well but drawing or losing today was important to win, to show character and the players on the pitch did that. That's the key for me, thinking about the future."
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N158711080204-0848.htm
I dont agree with this atall, how can the finger be pointed at Alonso when there have been players playing poor all season, whilst Alonso has missed most of it.
Kuyt, Kewell, Aurelio, Finnan, Riise, Voronin have been shocking this season IMO.
And the statement about Kuyt being treated unfair makes me believe he will be starting against Chelsea.
if he doesnt start producin ill get rid of him
