TWO seasons ago Rafael Benitez could do no wrong in Europe. The Spaniard might well scratch his head this morning wondering when he's next going to be considered as having done something right.
On the night former Liverpool misfit Fernando Morientes scored a hat-trick for Valencia, the Anfield manager was left contemplating another failure in front of goal for his team in the Champions League and defending his decision to rest skipper Steven Gerrard.
While they may have recorded their first clean sheet since mid-April, a goalless draw in Holland against PSV Eindhoven represented a missed opportunity for Liverpool to begin making amends for their weekend derby humiliation and lay down a significant marker in Group C.
But after that morale-sapping Goodison debacle, Benitez would probably have settled for this scoreline, a fact perhaps underlined by a team selection that saw Gerrard restricted to a 19-minute substitute appearance.
Benitez's rotation policy has attracted plenty of criticism this season as Liverpool have stumbled unconvincingly both home and abroad. But, conscious of the forthcoming Premiership showdown with Chelsea on Sunday, the manager last night dropped Gerrard and a clutch of other derby combatants.
The skipper almost made a telling contribution in the final minute, his volley crashing against the inside of the post rather than nestling in the back of the net, but Liverpool had to largely look elsewhere for their inspiration.
It came in the form of Morientes's replacement, Dirk Kuyt, who shone on his return to Holland after being handed the first start of his Liverpool career following his £9.5million transfer from Feyenoord.
But, as against Everton, neither he nor any of his team-mates could provide the decisive blow that would have seen off an ordinary PSV team. Worryingly, it's now been five games since Benitez's side last scored in the Champions League proper.
Kuyt certainly saw a lot of the ball, often dropping deep to offer himself to his midfielders and assuming intelligent positions on the counter-attack.
So eager was he to impress, the Dutchman could be spotted berating Mohamed Sissoko after being forced to track back 40 yards following more slack play from the Malian.
