We must focus on football, says Gerrard
Liverpool's players have vowed not to allow the crisis surrounding manager Rafael Benitez's future to distract them from trying to stay in the Champions League.
The row between Benitez and the club's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett regarding future transfers has cast a cloud of uncertainty over tomorrow's clash with Porto at Anfield.
Liverpool must win their final two group matches against Porto and Marseille to be certain of qualifying for the last 16.
Captain Steven Gerrard said: "It is important that we keep our focus, we realise that there is stuff going on behind the scenes but as players you have to blank that out.
"We are judged on results, it is vital we do not get distracted by what is going on off the pitch, we must keep on winning.
"The Porto match is crucial so we must take our current good form into it and make sure we perform on the night."
And Gerrard has no problem if Benitez wears a tracksuit in the dug-out, the Spaniard having pointedly worn one at Newcastle on Saturday after being told by the American owners to "concentrate on coaching and training the team."
Gerrard added: "The manager is usually in a suit, it's not like him, but he can keep wearing the tracksuit at away games if we keep getting the results like we did at Newcastle."
Goalkeeper Jose Reina also wants to concentrate on football and not the on-going crisis.
He said: "We have not been affected at all by what has been going on, it is not easy and not nice but all we can do is play football and show how good or bad we are on the pitch.
"We are under pressure to win this game because it is important, it is not a question of keeping our manager in a job.
"Obviously nothing depends on one game but we want to continue playing in the Champions League for a long time, that is why we need to win.
"There is always support for Rafa in the dressing room, our commitment is always there for him. He has been so successful in the last four years and he has won trophies.
"Not only the players support him, the supporters too. But this is not new, that has always been the case.
"The people will support their team, that is the most important thing.
"As players we cannot be affected by anything other than what happens on the pitch.
"I have not taken much notice of whatever rumours there are, we just must concentrate on the game.
"Of course we support him. And it is strange to hear things because he has been very successful.
"It is normal he wanted to improve the squad, I do not know exactly what has happened but for us we must be calm and be with our manager. He is the most important person for us to be concerned about."
