“If you analyse the performance of the centre-backs, it was clear to see they were much better at Chelsea and that was the positive thing to take from the game,” said Benitez. “Skrtel is a really good player and Carra was doing better again. Maybe you could say something about the second goal but the signs, for me, were much better.

“It was a difficult game for the central defenders to play and you know that when you come up against the top sides you must keep it tight.

“We paid for one mistake (in midfield) but, in the main, I was very pleased with the performances of Skrtel and Carra and they were doing the right things.”

Liverpool resume after this week’s international break with a trip to Sunderland on Saturday week, with Benitez keeping his fingers crossed his players return back from their national teams without injury.

The Anfield manager was handed a scare when Fernando Torres withdrew from a training session with Spain on Wednesday after complaining of discomfort in his groin ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Armenia.

After consultation with the national team’s medical staff, the striker’s early departure was deemed merely a precautionary measure.

But with Spain having already qualified for next summer’s finals, coach Vicente Del Bosque has suggested Torres will not be risked tomorrow with Sevilla’s Alvaro Negredo poised to take his place.

Meanwhile, reports in Italy suggest Juventus are contemplating a January move for Javier Mascherano, who is currently with the Argentina national team preparing for their decisive World Cup qualifying double header against Peru and Uruguay.