RAFAEL BENITEZ has warned Liverpool to heed the lessons of last season when they entertain Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
As Premier League action resumes following the international break, the Anfield outfit are aiming to pick up where they left off by keeping pace with Chelsea at the top of the table.
Benitez’s side remain unbeaten and have lost just four of their last 46 top-flight matches, a run stretching back to the tail end of the 2006-07 campaign.
However, last season’s efforts to launch a credible championship challenge were undermined by a number of damaging draws, particularly at Anfield.
Wigan were responsible for one such outcome in January when Titus Bramble’s unlikely 80th-minute volley equalised an earlier Fernando Torres effort.
It’s a result that still rankles with Benitez and, after Liverpool were held to a goalless draw by Stoke City in their previous home league game, the Spaniard has urged his players to be on their guard at the weekend.
“We know not to take anything for granted against Wigan because two points slipped away against them last season of course,” said Benitez.
“It was a bad game. I think we deserved to win but anyway, you have to score a second goal and finish the game if you want to avoid these situations.
“We know the Premier League is very difficult and all the teams have something and can be strong in the air and play with determination. When they come to Anfield you know it will be really difficult so we have to be alert and be careful next time.
“But the team has more confidence now and I think we can approach the games thinking about just to finish it as soon as possible.”
As Premier League action resumes following the international break, the Anfield outfit are aiming to pick up where they left off by keeping pace with Chelsea at the top of the table.
Benitez’s side remain unbeaten and have lost just four of their last 46 top-flight matches, a run stretching back to the tail end of the 2006-07 campaign.
However, last season’s efforts to launch a credible championship challenge were undermined by a number of damaging draws, particularly at Anfield.
Wigan were responsible for one such outcome in January when Titus Bramble’s unlikely 80th-minute volley equalised an earlier Fernando Torres effort.
It’s a result that still rankles with Benitez and, after Liverpool were held to a goalless draw by Stoke City in their previous home league game, the Spaniard has urged his players to be on their guard at the weekend.
“We know not to take anything for granted against Wigan because two points slipped away against them last season of course,” said Benitez.
“It was a bad game. I think we deserved to win but anyway, you have to score a second goal and finish the game if you want to avoid these situations.
“We know the Premier League is very difficult and all the teams have something and can be strong in the air and play with determination. When they come to Anfield you know it will be really difficult so we have to be alert and be careful next time.
“But the team has more confidence now and I think we can approach the games thinking about just to finish it as soon as possible.”
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