Fernando Torres has insisted sacking Rafa Benitez would not provide "a solution" to Liverpool's problems. The Spain striker has also underlined the bleak future facing the Reds by admitting the club cannot afford to buy top-class players in the January transfer window.

Torres, on whom Liverpool have relied heavily since he moved from Atletico Madrid in 2007, said the players should take responsibility for their current predicament rather than manager Benitez. "Sacking the manager is not a solution," he remarked.

Sacking the manager is not a solution. The manager is not playing, so we have to play much better.
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres supports Rafa Benitez

"The manager is not playing so we have to be positive with him, try to work with him. We are the main reason, the players are the persons that have to find a solution to the situation. The manager is not playing, so we have to play much better."

'We need players'
Liverpool are in eighth spot in the Premier League, their American owners are under pressure to cut their £240m debt, and they are out of the UEFA Champions League. They are also facing a £20m cut in income if they fail to qualify for Europe's top club competition next season, and they are eight points away from fourth-placed Aston Villa.

"Obviously we need players," Torres admitted. "If we can bring in quality players it should be really positive for us, but I think the situation is really difficult because I think we don't have money to bring in the best players.

"It's a difficult situation but every top team in the world goes sometimes through a bad situation like Liverpool now. Like every top team in the world, Liverpool will get over the situation.

"I have confidence in myself and my team. I know we are good enough. We were playing really well last season with the same team. We have to just recover the mentality and the confidence in ourselves and everything will be different."