Alonso defends Benitez

Former midfielder Xabi Alonso has urged Liverpool to stick with under-fire boss Rafa Benitez, insisting he is a "great manager."

Alonso has seen his former team-mates fall off the pace in the Premier League since his summer departure to Real Madrid and Benitez has come under fire from supporters for his sale of the influential Spain international.

However, the Bernabeu star has said countryman Benitez should be given time to turn the situation around at Anfield and called on club officials to stand by him.

"It's not the Liverpool way to sack a manager after a few bad results early in the season," Alonso told The Times. "He is the right man for the club. It wouldn't be a good decision to change the manager. He's a great manager."

"I still have great respect for him. I'm very grateful to him for the five great years I had at Liverpool.

"Of course the situation isn't the best right now, but he knows how to turn it around."