Babel reveals Anfield confidence crisis

Ryan Babel has admitted Liverpool are suffering a crisis of confidence.

The Dutch winger has revealed that belief within the team is so fragile that just one defeat sends it plummeting to rock bottom.

Before Monday night's defeat to Wigan, Liverpool had lost just one league game since the turn of the year, but they still contrived to look as though they hadn't won all year.

That left boss Rafa Benitez furiously questioning their attitude and character, and left them behind Spurs and Manchester City in the race for that vital Champions League place.

And according to Babel, the setback is a massive one, not just because they blew a must-win game, but also because they don't possess a strong-enough belief.

"It is so disappointing that we can't create the kind of confidence with winning games. One defeat seems to spoil all we have and then we have to start again.

"We still have hope and faith that we can get fourth place, but it will be harder in every game. It was going to be difficult even before Wigan. We know we needed to get three points and that's why the disappointment is so big because we failed.

"We have made it really difficult for ourselves now, but we have an important game on Thursday and must be ready for that. We can't be disappointed too long."