Champions League - Rafa not considering defeat

Eurosport - Wed, 27 Aug 10:22:00 2008

Manager Rafa Benitez said he was still waiting for Liverpool to move up a gear as they prepare for their crunch Champions League qualifier with Standard Liege.

2008-2009 Liverpool Rafa Benitez - 0

Wednesday's game follows a disappointing 0-0 draw in Belgium two weeks ago and some mediocre form in the Premier League, where late goals have yielded two victories and masked some mediocre performances.

"We were scoring lots of goals in pre-season and the team was improving. It was really pleasing," Benitez told a news conference as he looked ahead to their third qualifying round second leg.

"I thought we were in a good moment but we didn't play well in our last three games. That was clear."

Liverpool had been expected to enjoy an easy passage to the lucrative group stage when the Champions League draw was made.

Though their indifferent form has since raised a few question marks ahead of the Anfield game, Benitez was is no mood for contemplating a shock exit for the five-times champions.

"If you are asking me if I am considering defeat then the answer is no," Benitez said. "I am only thinking about winning.

"They were good in the first game but we were really poor. If we improve and play at our level it will be difficult for them."

Looking on the bright side of their victories over Middlesbrough, on Saturday, and Sunderland, he added: "If we are winning games and not playing well, it means we should find it easier to win games when we do play well."

He was also defensive about the partnership between new striker Robbie Keane and Spaniard Fernando Torres.

"On Saturday, they were much better," Benitez said. "But the team wasn't good enough around them. But they showed they are playing together much better."

Reuters

Comment 13 - 32 of 32

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

  1. 90 up.......they will do you on pens.......oh and for my next trick.....VILLA 3 YOU 1

    From , on Wed 27 Aug 9:59PM

  2. ooooh half time and you look s**t......the predictorking strikes again

    From , on Wed 27 Aug 9:11PM

  3. sorry liverpool but you will go out tonight..........don't bother with the retorts
    just watch the game.....sorry..........told you

    From , on Wed 27 Aug 7:57PM

  4. This is a reply to this muppet called sidatmo I dont follow football very much now days but I am qaulified coach so I think I now a little bit about football but this person clearly does not now anything about football or he just hates liverpool football club but we all should support our english teams when they play in C L

    From johnscase@..., on Wed 27 Aug 6:31PM

  5. im a big liverpool fan and i think they will win 2 night cos we been in the Champions League 2 long now 2 go out at the start of it so ill b looking in at it 2 night like everone els ,,,, i like 2 know from other liverpool fans do the think Robbie Keane was a good buy for the team ,, i cant see him and the brest player torres working out what do u think out there .......

    From tivelio1, on Wed 27 Aug 6:30PM

  6. liverpool are at home tonight so they will win the game look at last season we lost to besiscas 2-1 we had the second leg at home and we beat them 8-0 tonight will be the same all the first team players are back so we have a strong squad so watch out liverpool have the upper hand

    From kylie.williams, on Wed 27 Aug 6:02PM

  7. Jasoptimum851 aint no liverpool fan im telling you that now.

    From clivewilliamson@..., on Wed 27 Aug 5:05PM

  8. Why is it that I always see comments saying, 'Liverpool will never do better than 4th' I think i'm right in saying that we finished 3rd the season before last. That sound like 4th to you blainelewis75?

    From clivewilliamson@..., on Wed 27 Aug 4:32PM

  9. im a kopite an yes you have guessed it my breath stinks an i live in essex my nerves av gone for tonights game are team is pooplop we av only got 3 good players an they av retired you know them st.john warky an davie fairclough i wish i supported accrington stanley or hartlepool its just that are fans want to win everthing every year an we cant were in the shadows an when we get beat tonight its all over.. i want rafa gone its is nitty face thats causing all the problems there is far to much paella on the menu an ive had enough....... i will always walk alone.. STANDARD 3 liverpoo 0.

    From Jasoptimum851, on Wed 27 Aug 1:51PM

  10. liverpool to go into admin

    From sidatmo, on Wed 27 Aug 12:55PM

  11. liverpool to go down

    From sidatmo, on Wed 27 Aug 12:54PM

  12. Liverpool will never and i mean never win the title

    From sidatmo, on Wed 27 Aug 12:54PM

  13. Liverpool su*ks]#

    From sidatmo, on Wed 27 Aug 12:53PM

  14. gerrard s*ucks

    From sidatmo, on Wed 27 Aug 12:52PM

  15. torres s*cks

    From sidatmo, on Wed 27 Aug 12:52PM

  16. keane su*ks

    From sidatmo, on Wed 27 Aug 12:52PM

  17. liverpool su*ks

    From sidatmo, on Wed 27 Aug 12:51PM

  18. I have to laugh when I see comments off muppets like blainelewis75 who obviously havent got a clue about football, but at the same tired im sick an tired as a Liverpool fan of saying, this is our year, every year! Ive been a season ticket holder since i was little an i honestly think this is our best chance for the title, but at the same time we need to pull our fingers out, because i am sick of tired of stevie G comin out in the press around march/april time saying maybe next year. In fact, so is he, so maybe its time to do something lads!!! YNWA

    From paulabo2k, on Wed 27 Aug 12:05PM

  19. Watch for Robbie Keanes first goal tonight

    From Disciple1974, on Wed 27 Aug 11:52AM

  20. liverpool to go out today

    From sidatmo, on Wed 27 Aug 8:40AM
Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account