Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is still angry over their defeat at Wigan Athletic on Monday.

The Spaniard was at a loss to explain just why his side were so bad during the first half against the Latics but has told his squad they cannot afford to reproduce such ineptitude.

Benitez insists Liverpool can still qualify for the Champions League but it is going to take an impressive run of results - they have to play Manchester United away and Chelsea at home in their remaining nine matches - to change their fortunes.

"It depends on us. If we don't show we can beat teams then at the end it will be the same [as the Wigan result]," he said.

"When you lose you have to be disappointed but the way you lose is sometimes more important and in the first half we were just not good enough.

"I was surprised. I don't know, really I don't. I cannot understand it.

"We couldn't afford a performance like that before and we cannot now."