FRUSTRATED Rafael Benitez believes his Liverpool players must not dwell on the disappointment of their latest title setback.
The Anfield outfit missed the chance to return to the top of the Premier League table when they were held to a home goalless draw by Fulham on Saturday.
Results elsewhere meant Liverpool did not lose ground on their main rivals and remain level on points with leaders Chelsea.
However, since their unbeaten start to the season was ended by defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, Benitez’s side have won just two of the next five games.
But the Anfield manager has told his squad they must not allow the weekend stalemate to linger long in the memory, with Liverpool aiming to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League when they entertain Marseille on Wednesday.
“We are disappointed about Saturday but we cannot talk about past games now,” said Benitez. “We have to think about making mistakes and analyse why and find solutions for the next game.
“We are frustrated, really frustrated. How can we change that now? We have to analyse and talk to the players about the mistakes and try to change for the next game.
“There was frustration at the end but relief because we are in the same position and Arsenal had lost.”
Seven of Liverpool’s starting XI were on international duty for their respective national teams three days earlier.
Liverpool had previously beaten Middlesbrough, Manchester United and Wigan Athletic following international fixtures this season, but Benitez was adamant the national call-ups had this time affected his team’s performance.
“Clearly you can see that when the players arrive late and you don’t have time to prepare them and you have to push the player,” he said. “Three or four did not have enough energy.
“From the beginning we were not creating and the passing wasn’t good enough and the tempo was not good enough to play against these teams.”
Although Steven Gerrard was ruled out, Xabi Alonso didn’t appear until the 65th minute after being benched following a full 90-minute outing in Spain’s 3-0 friendly win over Chile.
Benitez instead started with Lucas Leiva and Javier Mascherano in midfield, with Liverpool labouring, as they did against Stoke City earlier in the campaign, to break down a well-drilled Fulham side.
And the manager explained: “When we were preparing the game I had clear idea that you can use four or five players who can play 90 minutes and they can be tired at the same time so you normally try and use players with fresh legs.”
The Anfield outfit missed the chance to return to the top of the Premier League table when they were held to a home goalless draw by Fulham on Saturday.
Results elsewhere meant Liverpool did not lose ground on their main rivals and remain level on points with leaders Chelsea.
However, since their unbeaten start to the season was ended by defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, Benitez’s side have won just two of the next five games.
But the Anfield manager has told his squad they must not allow the weekend stalemate to linger long in the memory, with Liverpool aiming to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League when they entertain Marseille on Wednesday.
“We are disappointed about Saturday but we cannot talk about past games now,” said Benitez. “We have to think about making mistakes and analyse why and find solutions for the next game.
“We are frustrated, really frustrated. How can we change that now? We have to analyse and talk to the players about the mistakes and try to change for the next game.
“There was frustration at the end but relief because we are in the same position and Arsenal had lost.”
Seven of Liverpool’s starting XI were on international duty for their respective national teams three days earlier.
Liverpool had previously beaten Middlesbrough, Manchester United and Wigan Athletic following international fixtures this season, but Benitez was adamant the national call-ups had this time affected his team’s performance.
“Clearly you can see that when the players arrive late and you don’t have time to prepare them and you have to push the player,” he said. “Three or four did not have enough energy.
“From the beginning we were not creating and the passing wasn’t good enough and the tempo was not good enough to play against these teams.”
Although Steven Gerrard was ruled out, Xabi Alonso didn’t appear until the 65th minute after being benched following a full 90-minute outing in Spain’s 3-0 friendly win over Chile.
Benitez instead started with Lucas Leiva and Javier Mascherano in midfield, with Liverpool labouring, as they did against Stoke City earlier in the campaign, to break down a well-drilled Fulham side.
And the manager explained: “When we were preparing the game I had clear idea that you can use four or five players who can play 90 minutes and they can be tired at the same time so you normally try and use players with fresh legs.”
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