Liverpool can still qualify, says defiant Rafa Benitez

Oct 25 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

DEFIANT Rafael Benitez insists Liverpool FC can still qualify for the knockout stage of the Champions League despite defeat in Istanbul last night.

The Spaniard’s team suffered a second successive Group A loss when they were beaten 2-1 by Besiktas to slump to the bottom of the table.

A 13th-minute own goal from Sami Hyypia and a strike from Brazilian striker Bobo eight minutes from time put the Turkish team on course for their first win of the group stages.

Steven Gerrard’s 85th-minute header gave Liverpool hope of an unlikely comeback but the Besiktas defence held firm during a frantic injury-time period. However, with Marseille and Porto playing out a 1-1 draw last night, Liverpool can almost certainly progress if they win their final three group games, starting at home to Besiktas on Tuesday week. And while conceding they are now in a precarious position, Benitez believes his under-pressure team can still qualify.

“It is really difficult,” said the Anfield manager. “We need to win three games and see what happens.

“The other game being a draw is not bad. We just have to keep winning if possible and we still have options.

“We need to play like we did today, creating chances but next time taking our chances. We just need to keep doing the right things as today and just see what happens.

“We knew before this game we had to win. Now it’s clear we have to win every game.”

Liverpool wasted numerous chances to earn at least a draw at the intimate Inonu Stadium, while Besiktas goalkeeper Hakan Arikan produced a string of fine saves.

And Benitez admitted: “It’s difficult to explain when you have 28 attempts away from home and you cannot win. We had bad luck with the first goal and after that it was difficult, but I thought we were playing well and trying to do everything to score.

“Their keeper played well, he saved two or three different shots and we were attacking an attacking, it’s the only way you can do things.

“Everyone could see the game today, we had 60% of the possession while playing away and we couldn’t do much else. In the first few minutes we had three chances and then conceded a goal in the 13th minute. It was bad luck. If we create chances like we did today then I am sure we will score more than one goal in the future.”

Peter Crouch remained on the bench until the final seven minutes, when Liverpool had fallen two goals behind.

But Benitez said: “I was not tempted to bring him on earlier. We were creating enough chances and Voronin was winning a lot of the second balls.”

Liverpool captain Gerrard added: “We were unlucky, we created chances. We are pleased with how we played but disappointed with the result. We need to keep going and win the final three games and see what happens. We need to take the positives and learn from our mistakes. We are capable of winning our final three games.”