Steven Gerrard has given his backing to beleaguered Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez by admitting that the club's players are to blame for their woeful form.

Gerrard has cut a disillusioned figure of late but has offered his support to the under-fire Benitez by accepting responsibility for the Reds' slump.

Liverpool are struggling down in eighth places in the Premier League heading into the festive schedule and are eight points adrift of Aston Villa in fourth.

Gerrard is quoted in The Sunas saying: "The players and the manager are all in it together.

"Obviously the managers carry the can for the whole team because they're the boss but we're all responsible for what's going on.

"We all need to step up. I don't think it's right to pick out individual players. We're a team and we are responsible for where we're lying in the league at the moment. All of us have got to stick together and try to turn it around."

Though Benitez's position is not thought to be in immediate threat, Gerrard has given the Spaniard his endorsement.

"He's a top manager," Gerrard declared. "He's a man and he'll take it on the chin.

"He'll be trying his best and working even harder to try to do a better job."