from the Telegraph

Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has told disgruntled fans "don't blame me" as many begin attributing the club's poor form to the Spaniard's recent departure to Real Madrid.

Liverpool have lost two of their opening three Premier League matches this season and cannot afford to lose any more if they are to have a realistic chance of wrestling the title away from Manchester United.

A 2-1 defeat to Tottenham on Aug 16 was followed up by a convincing 4-0 victory against Stoke. However, Monday night's 3-1 humbling at home by Aston Villa, their first league defeat at Anfield for almost two years, has left a dark cloud hanging over manager Rafa Benitez, who had high hopes this would be Liverpool's year.

The two games they have already lost this season is the same number they tasted defeat in over the whole of the 2008-09 campaign, and fans believe the fact it coincides with Alonso's departure is not mere conincidence.

Alonso, who joined Real for £30m, has been keeping track of Liverpool's plight, but has urged fans not to point the finger of blame at him.

He said: "Liverpool's bad beginning in three matches is not normal but I believe my exit has not been that decisive.

"Players are not that indispensable and these are only the first moments of the season. I am convinced the team will recover."

Alonso's replacement at Anfield, Alberto Aquilani, has yet to feature and will not be fit for another six weeks.

In the mean time, Yossi Benayoun has been tasked with the job of filling Alonso's shoes as the team's playmaker, and the Israeli has admitted Liverpool cannot afford to lose any more games.

He said: "We still think that we can win the title but maybe we cannot lose any more games until the end of the season.

"We didn't expect to lose. We didn't play like we can. To lose two out of three is unusual for us. We have to show now we are still a strong team."