Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has told Xabi Alonso he must fight for his place in the Reds' midfield.

The Spanish international struggled with a foot injury in the first half of the season and he has since failed to recapture the form of previous campaigns.

Alonso has fallen behind loan signing Javier Mascherano - who is expected to agree a permanent deal at Anfield by the end of the week - in Benitez's pecking order, while Brazilian youngster Lucas Leiva has also impressed alongside captain Steven Gerrard in the heart of Liverpool's midfield.

And Benitez has now demanded Alonso, who joined Liverpool in 2004 in a £10.5million move from Real Sociedad, 'step it up' in his battle to regain a place in the first XI.

Competition

"Xabi needs to step it up," told Liverpool's official website. "When you are not 100 per cent fit, you want to play every game because you need to play more games to build up your fitness.

"But if Gerrard, Mascherano or Lucas are playing well, it means there is competition for places which is good for the team.

"Xabi knows he needs to work harder if we wants to have a place in the team."

Meanwhile, Benitez confesses he is happy to be able to talk about football following Liverpool's 3-0 Premier League win against Sunderland on Saturday, which was the Reds' first three-point haul of 2008.

Speculation

Merseyside has been surrounded in speculation regarding the future of Benitez and the club's American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, but the Spaniard has admitted his delight at a return to winning ways on the pitch.

"It's good to be able to talk about football again," added Benitez. "As a manager you want to do that. If you score three goals and keep a clean sheet then that's the way forward.

"The players are happier and everyone is pushing together. The commitment of all the team was fantastic."