Premier League - Bosses: 'Turning point' for Reds

PA Sport - Mon, 30 Nov 06:00:00 2009

Reaction to Sunday's big Premier League games, with Rafael Benitez hoping Liverpool's 2-0 win over Everton represents a turning point for the club.

2009-10 Premier League Everton-Liverpool David Moyes Rafa Benitez - 0

Everton 0-2 Liverpool

David Moyes: "I don't feel we came off the pitch losers. The players worked extremely hard and they I felt they deserved more than what they got in the end.

"The deflected goal took the sting out of us. I don't know how many times Liverpool had been in our half up to that point but it wasn't many. But I thought the players reacted great. They kept going and I thought in the main we kept Liverpool quiet.

"The game was tight and we, in the main, were trying to set the tone and make it difficult for them. It is disappointing you don't get anything from that.

"I think the two saves by Reina (were crucial). I felt maybe our luck would change in the second half and we would get the goal but maybe that double save just altered it a little bit.

"But up until it went to 2-0 I can't remember Liverpool having a chance apart from Emiliano Insua's first-half header.

"But in big games especially you hope you don't get situations where there are mistakes because it is hard enough to score a goal without making anything which leads to one."

Rafael Benitez: "I think it was really important for us. We won against Debrecen (in midweek) and we knew we had to keep winning.

"A derby is always very difficult and also very important so a win today could set us up for the rest of the season.

"We are higher in table now, everyone is happy, so we will see if we can keep winning some games.

"It was a clearly a difficult game from the beginning. They were playing a direct and also a set-pieces game.

"It was very difficult to control that because they are strong in the air but we showed character and were trying to play counter-attack - sometimes with good possession, sometimes not so good.

"They were on top of us but we showed character, we won and scored two goals and at the end of the game maybe we had better control."

Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea

Arsene Wenger: "I believe that the first part of the game was all us and then their first shot on goal was in and then the second was a misunderstanding at the back between the keeper and (Thomas) Vermaelen and I think he didn't really go for the ball, we find ourselves 2-0 down at half-time.

"It's difficult because Chelsea defends well and attack on the break but I think we were very unfortunate to be 2-0 down at half-time.

"Then after the referee cancelled the goal nobody understands still why. What is he doing? I have watched it five times nobody touches (Petr) Cech he lets the ball down and we score he cancels the goal.

"Then of course coming back I think that was a big turning point in the game today. I felt in the first 20 minutes with a better first touch and a bit more belief we could score.

"We have nothing to be ashamed of with our performance today.

"I believe that it all went Chelsea's way today and I was not especially impressed with what went on, on the pitch and they took their chances very well and they have, in Drogba an exceptional player.

"But it is down to us to come back into it from what I have seen today of Chelsea they can drop points."

Carlo Ancelotti: "They (Arsenal) are upset because they lost and I think it was a foul on Petr Cech.

"We started the season believing we could win it (the league). Our objective is to stay in all the competitions until the end of the season. Then after that, if we can win things, we will try to do it.

"When I signed a contract with Chelsea, I believed we could win something."

"Drogba scored two goals and for me he did a good job. In the second half he returned sometimes in defence in our half together with his other team-mates. His work maintained balance in our team."

"We have a physical quality but we have other qualities too. Our midfield won the game and we defended with intelligence.

"It's true that Arsenal kept the ball for the first half but when we got possession we were very good on the counter-attack."

Wolves 0-1 Birmingham

Mick McCarthy: "I was not expecting us to play as poorly as we did in the first half.

"It was a hugely disappointing experience and we did not compete like we normally do.

"You expect to be beaten by Chelsea and Arsenal, as we have been in the last two games, but we expected to beat Birmingham.

"They deserved it, they were better than us on the day but we were 1-0 down before we had made a tackle and then it is always difficult.

"I can't blame the (4-0) defeat against Chelsea for what happened today. We were at home to Birmingham and didn't get the performance we wanted."

Bowyer settled matters with a clever chip from the edge of the Wolves box after good play by Christian Benitez.

Alex McLeish: "When Lee (Bowyer) came here other people had doubts about him. But I had no such doubts.

"I did some research and tried to ensure we were bringing someone in who's the right type and has still got the legs for Premier League football.

"When a player gets older, you fear the legs may go but Lee has shown that it's not the case with him.

"He is confounding his critics, helping us to promotion last season and his return of five goals is fantastic, like Bowyer of old.

"He's a mature player and along with Barry Ferguson patrolled and controlled the midfield superbly, especially in the first half."

PA Sport

Comment 225 - 244 of 244

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  1. That victory over everton was a massive boost for the­ team it is an indication for better things to come in­ thefuture.

    From Ogene, on Thu 3 Dec 4:16PM
  2. Listen to you Scouser's, one win over a poor­­ Everton and you all come out of the woodwork and start­­ crowing! Rubbish performance from Liverpool, Everton­­ were the­ better side, Liverpool had the luck (as­­ usual). I­ don't see how Benitez can see that­­ performance as a­ turning point. You just know the­­ Scouser's will­ lose against Blackburn Rovers next­­ week. Yak! yak! yak! The real question is why are­­ Gerrard & Torres playing in that team, surly they­­ deserve to be in a team that has equally good quality­­ players. They must realise they are carrying Liverpool­­ on their own, they should be at Barcalona, Manchester­­ United or maybe Chelsea instead of pedling their skill­­ in the Europa League for a very average side like­­ Liverpool, what a waste! Yak! yak! yak!

    From Sid, on Mon 30 Nov 11:57PM
  3. well said... we'll see em at old trashord and do em­ again.... should be empty of uniturd fans by 75 minutes­ like last year,,,,,, HOLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAH CHEEKY

    From x, on Mon 30 Nov 3:41PM
  4. Those Rats likes Bin dippin for free Cheeseburger...­ you wish you had torres at uniturd chris... long time­ no see.... chrismanureforlife...... see ya holla­ //........... hope ya die soon... cheeky

    From x, on Mon 30 Nov 3:39PM
  5. raffa has turned the scouse into a laughing stock...how­ can anyone be proud of what he has done this­ season?..and the favct that he seems to think hes doing­ a good job is hillarious!....bye bye raffa...time to­ wake up and serve the coffee!

    From stuart, on Mon 30 Nov 3:33PM
  6. LIVERPOL COULDINAY TURN A DINGAY IN DA MIDDAL AV DA F­ UCKAN SEA.

    From Donney, on Mon 30 Nov 2:10PM
  7. torres ladyboy

    From KING-ERIC, on Mon 30 Nov 1:29PM
  8. i itch all over the squat i am staying in is full of­ fleas

    From KING-ERIC, on Mon 30 Nov 1:20PM
  9. WILL P I think Everton are struggling because they have­ limited funds like any other of the so callled lesser­ teams in the premiership. I dont think there are any­ easy games any more. The bar has been raised this­ season and apart from Chelsea it seems that any team­ can beat each other. It sounds to me that Moyes wants­ out, reffering to his comments that he thinks he has­ taken the team as far as they can go?

    From Phil, on Mon 30 Nov 1:17PM
  10. i hate being a scouser

    From KING-ERIC, on Mon 30 Nov 1:16PM
  11. i am a ugly scouse slapper and a @#$% and donney is a­ illterate sweaty sock you are dead right sam glory­ glory man utd

    From KING-ERIC, on Mon 30 Nov 12:57PM
  12. leave donney alone he is a leg end in his own lunchtime­ mwah

    From KING-ERIC, on Mon 30 Nov 12:52PM
  13. e 276 i am sick and deluded for making them comments­ you want to spank me

    From KING-ERIC, on Mon 30 Nov 12:50PM
  14. Will, I think Everton have had really bad luck so far­ this season and also, Lescott leaving left a bad taste.­ I think it also affected the dressing room. They dont­ seem to have recovered fully since.In the past, Everton­ have often yo yo'd in the table though.

    From Dean O, on Mon 30 Nov 12:37PM
  15. what has happened? this story is on whichever page you­ go to regardless of the headline. eurosport needs to be­ serious and employee serious minded script writers.

    From torres9, on Mon 30 Nov 12:30PM
  16. I enjoy football but not any particular club i just­ enjoy it. I would like to ask a true Evertonian a­ genuine question. The last two seasons Everton were­ really progressing, great Manager and a good squad.­ 'What has happened this season they really appear­ to be struggling' ?, any ideas why. And no i dont­ want any of the usual moronic and stupid comments from­ the mindless thugs from man ure.

    From will p, on Mon 30 Nov 12:26PM
  17. Talking of cheeseburgers, have the mancs paid for the­ one's they stole at Barnsley?. Why attack women and­ steal the money, just like an episode of shameless.

    From Tony, on Mon 30 Nov 12:16PM
  18. Donneys and scouse babys comments are both retarded and­ should be banned from posting their shhite on this­ blog!!

    From Sam, on Mon 30 Nov 12:00PM
  19. first of all well said darren a scouser who tells the­ truth domistic your a full on p.r.i.c.k the results­ have never stopped united winning the league as it and­ scouse baby in reply to your only good manc is a dead­ manc your a no good slapped a.r.s.e coke-head who tals­ s.h.i.t.e and is probably a lapdancer transvestite­ called bob oh all the scousers who are conceding the­ league and hoping you hand the title to chelsea at ot­ if you beat us are sad muppets who should worry about­ yourselfs and not united or chelsea you all make me­ sick and im a scouser myself were all scum end of and­ so are the badge kissers like mascherano who will want­ a move the minute interest is shown

    From Enoch powell, on Mon 30 Nov 11:56AM
  20. David Moyes: "I don't feel we came off the­ pitch losers.

    Er, yeah you did!

    From TERRY G, on Mon 30 Nov 11:49AM
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