RAFA: DIFFICULT BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE
James Carroll at the Stade Gerland 04 November 2009
Rafa Benitez spoke of his disappointment following the 1-1 draw with Lyon on Wednesday evening - but insisted Liverpool can still qualify for the Champions League knockout stage.
Ryan Babel fired the Reds into an 83rd minute lead at the Stade Gerland, but Lisandro Lopez struck an equaliser for Les Gones with just seconds of normal time remaining.
In order to progress into the last 16, Liverpool must now beat both Debrecen and Fiorentina, and hope the Italians drop points at home to Lyon next time out.
"We are really disappointed because it was a great opportunity for us," Benitez told his post-match press conference in France.
"We had some chances, but again it was a late goal against Lyon that made a massive difference.
"Clearly it is difficult for us to qualify, but not impossible. We have to win our game and see what happens in the game with Fiorentina and Lyon. Then we will approach the last game.
"We have a chance and the main thing is to play well against Debrecen and then see what the situation is for our last match."
Benitez dismissed claims Lyon's equaliser came as a result of Liverpool pushing forward in search of a second goal.
"If you analyse the goal we conceded, we had a lot of players in position and we were not in a bad position," he said.
"We made a mistake, but not because we were too high or trying to attack. We were trying to control the game, but we couldn't.
"But football is like this - sometimes you need luck, and we didn't have it in the end."
The boss admitted he was pleased with the spirited performance of his players, in spite of the current injury situation at Anfield.
And Benitez revealed the Reds could welcome back Martin Skrtel for Monday's Anfield clash with Birmingham City.
"I think we had too many problems before the game, so I am quite pleased with the performance of the players," he said.
"We had many players in different positions, and they did well.
"I think it will be good to analyse the performance of the team. The players will see we were working very hard and had many chances and that is positive.
"The players know if they work as hard as tonight they will win matches.
"Hopefully we will have Skrtel available for the next game and we can manage things in a different way."
Quizzed about the fitness of Fernando Torres, who played for 87 minutes in the South of France, Benitez replied: "I think he was okay. When he is playing with pain it is not easy.
"He was inconsistent because he was having to stop and start again, but we have some time and we will be working with him."
James Carroll at the Stade Gerland 04 November 2009
Rafa Benitez spoke of his disappointment following the 1-1 draw with Lyon on Wednesday evening - but insisted Liverpool can still qualify for the Champions League knockout stage.
Ryan Babel fired the Reds into an 83rd minute lead at the Stade Gerland, but Lisandro Lopez struck an equaliser for Les Gones with just seconds of normal time remaining.
In order to progress into the last 16, Liverpool must now beat both Debrecen and Fiorentina, and hope the Italians drop points at home to Lyon next time out.
"We are really disappointed because it was a great opportunity for us," Benitez told his post-match press conference in France.
"We had some chances, but again it was a late goal against Lyon that made a massive difference.
"Clearly it is difficult for us to qualify, but not impossible. We have to win our game and see what happens in the game with Fiorentina and Lyon. Then we will approach the last game.
"We have a chance and the main thing is to play well against Debrecen and then see what the situation is for our last match."
Benitez dismissed claims Lyon's equaliser came as a result of Liverpool pushing forward in search of a second goal.
"If you analyse the goal we conceded, we had a lot of players in position and we were not in a bad position," he said.
"We made a mistake, but not because we were too high or trying to attack. We were trying to control the game, but we couldn't.
"But football is like this - sometimes you need luck, and we didn't have it in the end."
The boss admitted he was pleased with the spirited performance of his players, in spite of the current injury situation at Anfield.
And Benitez revealed the Reds could welcome back Martin Skrtel for Monday's Anfield clash with Birmingham City.
"I think we had too many problems before the game, so I am quite pleased with the performance of the players," he said.
"We had many players in different positions, and they did well.
"I think it will be good to analyse the performance of the team. The players will see we were working very hard and had many chances and that is positive.
"The players know if they work as hard as tonight they will win matches.
"Hopefully we will have Skrtel available for the next game and we can manage things in a different way."
Quizzed about the fitness of Fernando Torres, who played for 87 minutes in the South of France, Benitez replied: "I think he was okay. When he is playing with pain it is not easy.
"He was inconsistent because he was having to stop and start again, but we have some time and we will be working with him."
