Liverpool succumbed to a 3-1 loss at Anfield on Monday evening when a flurry of costly errors were capitalized on by Aston Villa.
A Lucas Leiva own goal, coupled with a Curtis Davies header and an Ashley Young penalty saw the tie swing in Martin O'Neill's men's favour, and Fernando Torres' strike to bring the tie to 2-1 was insufficient to spark the comeback that Rafael Benitez craved.
Following the final whistle, the Spaniard was swift to seek an exit down the Liverpool tunnel, but spoke to ESPN where he talked of the "mistakes" his side conceded.
"It was a frustrating night, we started well and we had chances. We had one mistake and at the last minute of the half we had another one. Then another mistake, [that] they scored [from].
"When we scored our goal, at 1-2, everything could have been different. We had another mistake and another two [goals to chase].
"I was 100 per cent sure we could turn it round, but it was the right moment for them to have the penalty," he shared.
Liverpool were second-best in the first-half, but Benitez revealed that he was pleased with the second-half reaction.
"I thought we improved in the second half. We were working harder, playing better, the goalkeeper played well, but we showed character."
Liverpool's two losses in three games equals the number of defeats they accrued throughout the entirety of the 2008-09 Premier League season, but Benitez refused to get drawn into campaign comparisons.
"It's a different season. Things can change."
A Lucas Leiva own goal, coupled with a Curtis Davies header and an Ashley Young penalty saw the tie swing in Martin O'Neill's men's favour, and Fernando Torres' strike to bring the tie to 2-1 was insufficient to spark the comeback that Rafael Benitez craved.
Following the final whistle, the Spaniard was swift to seek an exit down the Liverpool tunnel, but spoke to ESPN where he talked of the "mistakes" his side conceded.
"It was a frustrating night, we started well and we had chances. We had one mistake and at the last minute of the half we had another one. Then another mistake, [that] they scored [from].
"When we scored our goal, at 1-2, everything could have been different. We had another mistake and another two [goals to chase].
"I was 100 per cent sure we could turn it round, but it was the right moment for them to have the penalty," he shared.
Liverpool were second-best in the first-half, but Benitez revealed that he was pleased with the second-half reaction.
"I thought we improved in the second half. We were working harder, playing better, the goalkeeper played well, but we showed character."
Liverpool's two losses in three games equals the number of defeats they accrued throughout the entirety of the 2008-09 Premier League season, but Benitez refused to get drawn into campaign comparisons.
"It's a different season. Things can change."
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