Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has paid tribute to the club's coaching staff as they sit top of the Premiership table.
"You've got to give credit to the manager," Gerrard told liverpoolfc.tv. "He has built a very strong squad and we've got two or three people fighting for each position.
"No one wants to lose their place in the team and I think you can see that in the performances because everyone is working hard to stay in the side.
"Everyone knows Rafa is the top man and how much he is involved, but when he has been missing through illness over the last couple of weeks Sammy (Lee) has come in alongside Mauricio (Pellegrino) and they have done a fantastic job.
"People are saying that Sammy was one of the most important signings we made in the summer and I certainly agree with that.
"He's very enthusiastic, he loves the football club. You can see day in day out how much he wants success for this club.
"He plays a really important role for us and I'm really pleased at how well things have gone for him over the last couple of weeks.
"I think when the main man is missing everyone has to stick together.
"The likes of Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, Xabi Alonso, Pepe Reina, the experienced players around the dressing room, have needed to roll their sleeves up and fill the void with the manager being missing and they've all done that."
