Everton made it easy for us, says Liverpool FC manager Rafael Benitez

Feb 8 2010 by David Randles, Liverpool Daily Post

RAFAEL BENITEZ admitted Everton made it easy for Liverpool to win the 213th Merseyside derby.

Dirk Kuyt’s 55th-minute header was the difference between the two teams, but Benitez believes Everton failed to take advantage of Sotirios Kyrgiakos’s first half sending off.

The Greek defender received a straight red card for a two-footed tackle on Marouane Fellaini, who was stretchered off before being carried down the tunnel and taken to hospital for an X-ray.

Despite the introduction of the ball-playing Mikel Arteta, however, the visitors resorted to hitting long balls forward instead of trying to play through Liverpool. That, says Benitez, played into Liverpool’s hands, making for a more comfortable win than he expected.

“I was surprised,” said the Spaniard. “I was expecting more penetrating passes and also for them to try and play on the floor.

“They had Arteta on but they played direct. That made it easier for us. It was easier to control and we continued to do our job in defence.

“When you are losing with 11 players against 10 but you have to win, sometimes you are a little bit more nervous and play more direct. That made it easier for us to control the situation. It suited us.”

Benitez was clearly unhappy with the decision to send off Kyrgiakos, particularly as Fellaini went unpunished in an incident that presented a case for both players being reprimanded.

Having impressed in recent weeks, the centre-back will now miss Liverpool’s next three games against Arsenal, Manchester City and Blackburn.

Referee Martin Atkinson struggled to control a typically physical encounter between the fierce Mersey rivals, but Benitez stopped short of publicly criticising the official.

“There are too many tackles that we can analyse carefully but we won’t all agree,” he said.

“I prefer not to say anything about it rather than comment on the referee.

“But, yes, everybody was surprised with the sending off.

“It was difficult. There were too many tackles in the first half. Then we had 10 men where it should have been two yellow cards.

“We needed to have more control and try to win but without losing the passion.”