[lfc-news] Benitez frustrated by draw - PA

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PA Sport, 4 Dec 2004
BENITEZ FRUSTRATED BY DRAW

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez spelt out his frustration after his side
failed to make the most of their first-half dominance in today's 1-1
Barclays Premiership draw at Aston Villa.

The Reds went ahead through Harry Kewell's first league goal for 10 months
and then had numerous opportunities to secure only their second away win of
the campaign.

But Villa levelled with a Nolberto Solano free-kick - his fourth goal in
four consecutive home games - and held on for a draw.

Benitez said: "It is frustrating because it is very difficult to play
better than we did in the first half when we had a lot of clear chances and
were only level.

"In the second half Villa kept the ball more often but we still had
opportunities to have won the game.

"Today we improved our level of performance away from home and we played in
the opening half at the same level as against Arsenal. But you need to
score to win games."

Benitez felt that Jamie Carragher had not fouled Gavin McCann - later
substituted with a knee problem - in the build-up to to Villa's equaliser.

He said: "For me it is not a free-kick. I want to see it on the TV but in
the context of the whole game the free-kick is not important.

"It is more important we play well and we had eight to 10 chances. It is
important to win when you do that."

Steven Gerrard was outstanding in a free role behind Neil Mellor although
Benitez was reluctant to single him out for praise.

He said: "I don't like to talk about one player only but Steven is playing
well and he got into the box in good positions on one or two occasions. But
you cannot play well if the team is not playing well around you."

Villa manager David O'Leary was relieved to earn a share of the spoils
after his side's first-half mauling.

He said: "I'm doing head-stands over getting a point. I thought in the
first half we got totally out of gaol and were outclassed.

"I was worried all week because I thought Gerrard, [Xabi] Alonso and
[Dietmar] Hamann would all be in midfield and that could be a bit of a
mismatch in that department.

"We couldn't live with the quality in the first half and they should have
scored more goals in the first half.

"They were able to almost walk the ball in the net for their goal and then
we scored from a free-kick which is about all we did in the first half.

"In the second half it was more even in every way. To dig in during the
second half was a plus point and I also thought the young lad Steven Davis
did particularly well in midfield particularly considering the company he
was in."

O'Leary was fulsome in his praise for Gerrard and said: "I joked to him,
'don't you think you should come off and save yourself for the Champions
League on Wednesday.'

"Gerrard had that licence to break forward and he is one of those certain
players that makes the players around him play even better.

"I think when Gerrard is in the team they are a lot better and their
players know that and are delighted to have him in there - and just imagine
what he would have been like had he gone to Chelsea."


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