Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Benitez Hails Liverpool As 'Best In Europe'


The Spaniard believes that recent giant-killing results, together with his side's track-record in the Champions League, prove that Liverpool are the best of the best.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is not fazed by the fact that the Premier League crown, Champions League trophy, and FIFA World Club championship are all proudly on display in Manchester United's trophy cabinet.

The FIFA World Player of the Year and individual accolade accumulator - Cristiano Ronaldo - is also on the books there, yet Benitez believes his Liverpool side are the "best in Europe" following his club's 4-1 mauling of United at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Despite Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo opening the scoring in favour of the Mancunians, Liverpool pegged United back through a flurry of goals from Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Fabio Aurelio, and Andrea Dossena.

The win capped a triumphant week for Benitez's men as they also slayed Spanish heavyweight opposition Real Madrid by four goals to nil and, had it not been for Iker Casillas, the scoreline could have been even more emphatic.

Given the Reds' track record in the Champions League - they have made two finals in the past five years, winning it on one of those occasions to add to the club's previous four triumphs - Benitez believes it is his side, not Sir Alex Ferguson's, who can claim to be the cream of the crop on the continent.

He is quoted by The Sun as saying, "I believe Liverpool have been the best team in Europe for the last five years. We have beaten Real Madrid and Manchester United in the same week - if we can beat them, we can beat anybody."

Talismanic captain Steven Gerrard is hoping that other sides will take heed from the manner in which Liverpool overcame Manchester United.

Gerrard said, "We will need a little bit of luck along the way but hopefully that gives teams that are going to play against Manchester United a bit of belief that they can be beaten."

Manchester United's heavy defeat against Liverpool was the worst inflicted upon them at Old Trafford by their north-west rivals since the 1930s.

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