London, Dec. 23 : Following Liverpool’s exit from the Champions League the sacking of boss Rafael Benitez looks imminent, but striker Fernando Torres insists that sacking the manager "is not a solution" to the club''s problems.

"I think sacking the manager is not a solution. The manager is not playing so we have to be positive with him, try to work with him,” The Telegraph quoted Torres, as saying of the fellow Spaniard.

"We are the main reason, the players are the people that have to find a solution to the situation. The manager is not playing, so we have to play much better,” he added.

Benitez''s position came under scrutiny after Liverpool’s exit from Champions League at the group stage, with the club winning just three times in 12 matches, slipping to eighth in the Premier League.

Benitez''s job is safe until the end of the season, as owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks would struggle to afford to sack him now and appoint a new manager.

Torres - the subject of speculation that Manchester City may bid for him in the January window - also underlined the bleak future facing Liverpool by admitting that the club cannot afford to buy top-class players in the January transfer window.

“Obviously we need players. If we can bring 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,” he said.

"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," he added.