Gerrard said: "It's not just this week it has been going on. It's certainly not helping the team. I have to be careful what I say but we know what's going on.

"The players have got a job to do on the pitch and you try to put it to the back of your mind. But it's impossible to ignore when it's going on every day."

Benitez refused the offer to back up his skipper, says the Daily Mail.

He said: "I can understand why Steven has said what he has said but I prefer to analyse the game."