[lfc-news]Benítez on the defensive as Liverpool crashout of the cup

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page
http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/2_TolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->

Benítez on the defensive as Liverpool crash out of the cup

Jon Brodkin at Selhurst Park
Wednesday October 26, 2005
The Guardian

Rafael Benítez refused to heap more criticism on his players after
Liverpool's shocking 2-1 Carling Cup exit at Crystal Palace last night but
it was plain from the manager's body language that he was angry with the
embarrassing outcome.
Benítez had taken his team to task before this game for their attitude in
last Saturday's defeat at Fulham and accused them of not being aggressive
enough at Craven Cottage. But the Spaniard made a point of saying several
times that his side had worked hard during this exit to Championship opponents.

He was generous in not laying into his players for a dismal second-half
display and chose his words carefully. "The team worked hard and created
opportunities and you can't saying anything," he said. "It's not the same
as the other day. We started the game well and worked hard until the end."
He expressed confidence that his strikers will soon begin to score and came
closest to criticism in acknowledging the poor defending that allowed
Palace two goals. "We have made some mistakes," he said. "That's the reason
we lost. If we had scored in the first half, one or two goals, it would be
different," he added, reflecting partly on good goalkeeping by Julian Speroni.

Benítez made several changes from the weekend's game, introducing five
inexperienced players but did not agree he had picked the wrong team. "I
try to use my squad," he said, though he suffered a similar FA Cup defeat
at Burnley last season.

He sidestepped a question about whether he was concerned by the contrast
between Liverpool's European and domestic form. "We are thinking about the
next game, nothing else," he said, but his opposite number Iain Dowie did
address the issue.

"European football is a bit more slow and ponderous," he said after a high-
energy display from Palace. "I also think they have missed Steven Gerrard.
He's the heartbeat of the team. When they get everyone back I will be
amazed if they are not in the top four."

Dowie hailed not just the spirit but quality of his team's performance as
he tries to lead the club back to the Premiership. "It's a fillip for
everyone at the club," he said. "What effect it has we will see but it
should give the lads a lot of confidence."

Unsubscribe: lfc-news-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
http://www.lfc-list.org.uk/

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lfc-news/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
lfc-news-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/