[lfc-news] Benitez: I just can't believe that scoreline

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Benitez: I just can't believe that scoreline Oct 3 2005
By Ian Doyle, Daily Post

RAFAEL BENITEZ last night bemoaned the defensive mistakes that sent
Liverpool crashing to their worst home defeat in almost 36 years.

The European Cup holders were thrashed 4-1 by Chelsea in the second part of
their doubleheader against the Premiership champions to set a series of
unwanted records.

It was the first time Liverpool had conceded four goals at home in the
league since they lost by the same scoreline to Manchester United in
December 1969, and was their heaviest defeat in all competitions since
Manchester United at Old Trafford beat them 4-0 in April 2003.

The result consigned Liverpool to their worst start to a season in 13
years, having taken just seven points from their opening six games.

And unhappy Liverpool manager Benitez pointed the finger at his defenders
for the mistakes that allowed Chelsea to romp to their biggest win at
Anfield since 1907.

"We helped them with the mistakes and we know they are a team that can make
the most of them," said the Spaniard. "We started the game really well and
after one mistake and another mistake it becomes difficult for us.

"We have made mistakes but we will learn from this. It is not normal for us
to make so many mistakes. This season we have not conceded a lot of goals
but look at their fourth goal. It was a throw their fourth goal. It was a
throw-in - unbelievable."

Frank Lampard set Chelsea on their way with a penalty after Djimi Traore
had fouled Didier Drogba. Steven Gerrard equalised only for Damien Duff to
restore the visitors' advantage two minutes before the break, before Joe
Cole and Geremi netted in the second half as Liverpool chased the game.

"To lose 4-1 at home, it was incredible considering our first-half
performance," said Benitez.. "It is impossible to believe that scoreline.
It is difficult to explain after seeing the team play so well in the first
half.

"We conceded a penalty and another goal before the second half. Then we had
to go high and made another mistake and conceded a third and another
mis-take and a fourth.

"From the first 45 minutes I didn't think we needed to change anything. The
first 25 minutes, we controlled the game but then they scored so everything
changed."

Benitez added: "We needed to start the second half going forward and we
lost the third goal and then it was even more difficult. I was trying to
win the game.

Story continues

"Chelsea are a good team and strong in defence. We had to attack against
them and it just let them play the game that they want."

Benitez insisted he would not panic after the heavy defeat extended
Liverpool's below-par start to the Premiership campaign. "We have lost one
game," said the Spaniard. "Now we need to start working for next game. If
we played badly I'd be concerned but in the first half we played really
well against a team as good as Chelsea.

"We can improve, but I don't want to think about the title or how far we
are behind Chelsea."

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho agreed with Benitez's sentiments but warned
it would now be hard to regard Liverpool as genuine championship contenders.

"Chelsea do not say we are the best team in the world, because it is
difficult for anyone to say that," said Mourinho. "Liverpool may be
European champions but they cannot say they are the best because they could
not beat Chelsea in two games. It is difficult for Liverpool now.

"They are a very good team and are very difficult to beat, and I think that
4-1 was a consequence of what happened in the second half. Just because
they lost 4-1, that doesn't mean they are not a very good team."

Meanwhile Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has signalled that the club
has no regrets over the failure to re-sign Michael Owen from Real Madrid.

Liverpool have only scored four goals in the Barclays Premiership this
season and new signing Peter Crouch is yet to get off the mark, while Owen
has netted two in his first three games for Newcastle following his
£17million move to St James' Park..

But Parry maintains Liverpool could not contemplate doing business at that
price for a player they had sold to Madrid for nearly half that amount just
12 months earlier.

"Life goes on. We were interested, of course, but the deal didn't make
sense," Parry admitted.. "That one is history and we move on."

Parry does not rue the club's decision to sell Owen in the first place
either - because without the England striker Liverpool became champions of
Europe for a fifth time.

"With the resources from the Michael deal we were able to bring in Xabi
Alonso and Luis Garcia who both played an integral part in the Champions
League," Parry said yesterday. "There is no time in football for looking
backwards. Would we swap winning the Champions League in Istanbul for
anything else? Absolutely not."

But the target at Liverpool now is bringing the league title back to Anfield.

"Winning the Premier League is a key target for us. We are not putting a
timescale on that but our objective is to do better this year (in the
league) than we did last year," said Parry. "We want to win."

"This club exists to win silverware. Resources do come into that but I
would dread the day if we ever felt we couldn't compete for trophies. I am
sure it would never come."

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