“We had a lot of chances in the first half. It was unbelievable to see us losing 2-1 at half-time after playing in that way.

“We scored a great goal and we had two or three clear chances. I cannot believe we were losing 2-1 after playing in that way. At half-time we just wanted to send the same messages, keep playing well and doing the same things.”

While Gerrard and Glen Johnson returned from groin and calf problems respectively, Fernando Torres was ruled out with Liverpool deciding not to risk the striker.

But they ended the game with Riera and Benayoun nursing injuries with Benitez revealing the pair had suffered torn hamstrings, with Daniel Agger having aggravated his back problem.

“Riera has the same problem as he had before,” said Benitez. “Sometimes the players say they are available but not 100%, and we thought Riera was okay but he wasn’t.

“Yossi was the same, he has been playing too many games in a row. I think both have torn their hamstrings.

“Agger has a problem with his back, it’s not serious but he felt it. We have two or three things.”

Of the Torres situation, Benitez explained: “Torres had no confidence in his injury and we started the treatment on his injury yesterday. He still has to work with the physios. We are not talking about an operation, we are just wanting to treat him properly. I don’t know if he will be ready for Manchester City.”