Manager Rafael Benitez insists Saturday’s miserable 2-0 defeat at bottom club Portsmouth hasn’t shaken his belief that Liverpool will qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Javier Mascherano was sent off as they crashed to a seventh league reverse of the campaign.
Liverpool now find themselves seventh in the Premier League, eight points off fourth placed Aston Villa, ahead of the hectic festive period.
Benitez is confident they will re-ignite their push for a top four finish when they entertain Wolves on Boxing Day before travelling to Villa three days later.
“We always knew the battle for fourth would be difficult but we know we can play well,” Benitez said.
“We know we have the quality, it’s just a question of belief. When the players have a run of games together we will improve.
“It’s tough when you have just lost and really disappointing, but if you analyse the game against Portsmouth carefully in the first half we had plenty of possession and were in control of the game.
“We started the game with real intensity but made a mistake for their first goal and paid for it. We have to defend better.”
Benitez was fuming at referee Lee Mason’s decision to send off Mascherano for his tackle on Tal Ben Haim just before the break. The Argentinean came off second best in the challenge and damaged medial knee ligaments.
“After the sending off everything changed,” Benitez said.
“I have my opinion about the sending off, it’s very clear. But the referee was perfect. He didn’t make any mistakes.
“Now Javier is injured and I will say again the referee didn’t make any mistakes. He was perfect. I have seen the replay, for me it is not a sending off, but anyway, perfect.
“With only 10 players in the second half it was always going to be difficult.
“We had to go forward and leave spaces which meant they could play on the counter attack. It was really difficult for us.
“We were making some mistakes with our passing and were anxious.
“Everybody has to be disappointed but we have to stick together and be ready for the next game. We must try to get three points and see what happens after that.”
Benitez revealed Alberto Aquilani missed the trip to the south east with a calf injury. The Italian is still waiting to make his first league start following his £20million summer move from Roma.
“Aquilani couldn’t train on Friday but it is not serious so he will be okay for next week,” he added.
Liverpool have confirmed Mascherano will serve a four-match ban after his sending-off at Fratton Park.
The Argentina captain was shown a straight red card by referee Mason and now faces his second suspension of the season.
Mascherano will miss the forthcoming fixtures against Wolves, Aston Villa, the FA Cup third round tie at Reading and the league clash with Tottenham on January 10.
However, his participation in at least some of those games would have been in doubt anyway as he had to be helped off the field having been shown the red card and is believed to have sustained medial knee ligament damage.
The absence of the Argentinian, who was just starting to rediscover his form, will be a huge blow to Benitez.
Javier Mascherano was sent off as they crashed to a seventh league reverse of the campaign.
Liverpool now find themselves seventh in the Premier League, eight points off fourth placed Aston Villa, ahead of the hectic festive period.
Benitez is confident they will re-ignite their push for a top four finish when they entertain Wolves on Boxing Day before travelling to Villa three days later.
“We always knew the battle for fourth would be difficult but we know we can play well,” Benitez said.
“We know we have the quality, it’s just a question of belief. When the players have a run of games together we will improve.
“It’s tough when you have just lost and really disappointing, but if you analyse the game against Portsmouth carefully in the first half we had plenty of possession and were in control of the game.
“We started the game with real intensity but made a mistake for their first goal and paid for it. We have to defend better.”
Benitez was fuming at referee Lee Mason’s decision to send off Mascherano for his tackle on Tal Ben Haim just before the break. The Argentinean came off second best in the challenge and damaged medial knee ligaments.
“After the sending off everything changed,” Benitez said.
“I have my opinion about the sending off, it’s very clear. But the referee was perfect. He didn’t make any mistakes.
“Now Javier is injured and I will say again the referee didn’t make any mistakes. He was perfect. I have seen the replay, for me it is not a sending off, but anyway, perfect.
“With only 10 players in the second half it was always going to be difficult.
“We had to go forward and leave spaces which meant they could play on the counter attack. It was really difficult for us.
“We were making some mistakes with our passing and were anxious.
“Everybody has to be disappointed but we have to stick together and be ready for the next game. We must try to get three points and see what happens after that.”
Benitez revealed Alberto Aquilani missed the trip to the south east with a calf injury. The Italian is still waiting to make his first league start following his £20million summer move from Roma.
“Aquilani couldn’t train on Friday but it is not serious so he will be okay for next week,” he added.
Liverpool have confirmed Mascherano will serve a four-match ban after his sending-off at Fratton Park.
The Argentina captain was shown a straight red card by referee Mason and now faces his second suspension of the season.
Mascherano will miss the forthcoming fixtures against Wolves, Aston Villa, the FA Cup third round tie at Reading and the league clash with Tottenham on January 10.
However, his participation in at least some of those games would have been in doubt anyway as he had to be helped off the field having been shown the red card and is believed to have sustained medial knee ligament damage.
The absence of the Argentinian, who was just starting to rediscover his form, will be a huge blow to Benitez.
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