Is Rafa Benitez losing it after Liverpool drop points at Wigan?

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Rafa Benitez went into a rambling 'crazy' rant as Liverpool blew two more points in their bid to stay in the title.

The Spaniard has been a target for chants of 'he's cracking up' since his blast at Sir Alex Ferguson and last night that seemed to be the case in a bizarre press conference after Liverpool dropped to third in the title race.

Benitez kept using the word 'crazy' to refer to the second half when his side blew a lead and gave away a stonewall penalty when Lucas Leiva tripped sub Jason Koumas.

The Kop chief was unhappy with some refereeing decisions and hinted at Fergie's influence over officials still being a factor. But he made little sense at all in his latest outburst.

Benitez said: "I feel we have lost two points, we were much better in the first half and had control of the game. The second half was crazy and when it is crazy you can't control things.

"I'm disappointed with things but not Wigan's approach. I don't want to talk about it. It's happened in the last three games, things are happening that I don't like. I know why but I can't say anything.

"The players were OK, they were working hard. But it changed, it's crazy. I told the players what to do on the pitch that there are things you can't control.

"You can't control things and when you can't change you understand it maybe has to be like this for years."

Benitez admitted skipper Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres were tired as his team faded badly but he still has hopes of a title charge.

He said: "We have got an important game with Chelsea on Sunday, if we play like we did in the first half we can beat anyone."

Robbie Keane only came on for the last few minutes but Benitez does not believe he will be sold and he may figure with Torres struggling and few other players on form.

Wigan boss Steve Bruce also held out some hope for Liverpool when he told them the race has a long way to go yet. Bruce invented the phrase the 'tickly bit' when he was a Manchester United player and said: "The tickly bit hasn't even started yet. It's too early.

"You don't win championships in January, there are lots of games to be played. It's about who handles it when it becomes nervy."

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