Rafa Benitez heaped praise on his Liverpool charges after bouncing back from Saturday's defeat to Middlesbrough with a convincing 2-0 victory over Sunderland at Anfield.
David Ngog finished off an excellent attacking move from close range on 51 minutes before Yossi Benayoun tapped home from a weak Marton Fulop save to seal the comfortable victory over Ricky Sbragia's men 14 minutes later.
Benitez told reporters after the match that the win was the perfect tonic to lift the players' confidence.
He said: "Clearly after the defeat of the other day it was very important to get three points and try to play a good game.
"It was difficult in the first half - they had a very good chance to go in front but after that we were keeping the ball and the game became more open after we scored the goal in the second half.
"We needed to win because we knew that we were in a very good position before the Middlesbrough game. We were very disappointed after that defeat so we had to show a lot of character to win against Sunderland.
"I think that David Ngog did a very good job, he had a good game. Yossi Benayoun also played well and Pepe Reina was also very important for us when he saved early on in the game.
"But the whole team was always trying to pass the ball, we were very well organised. They were very good on the counter attack so we had to keep calm - we created a lot of chances.
"The reaction of the players was very good."
With the Reds now lying four points behind league leaders Manchester United - who have played two less games - Benitez admitted he will be watching Alex Ferguson's men take on Newcastle at St James' Park on Wednesday and hoping for the Magpies to do Liverpool a favour.
"We have to approach each game with confidence and just think about ourselves," said Benitez.
"But it also depends on what happens with the other results and we have to wait and see what happens with United on Wednesday.
"If United cannot win then it will be very good for us, clearly it will be very good if Newcastle can win."
David Ngog finished off an excellent attacking move from close range on 51 minutes before Yossi Benayoun tapped home from a weak Marton Fulop save to seal the comfortable victory over Ricky Sbragia's men 14 minutes later.
Benitez told reporters after the match that the win was the perfect tonic to lift the players' confidence.
He said: "Clearly after the defeat of the other day it was very important to get three points and try to play a good game.
"It was difficult in the first half - they had a very good chance to go in front but after that we were keeping the ball and the game became more open after we scored the goal in the second half.
"We needed to win because we knew that we were in a very good position before the Middlesbrough game. We were very disappointed after that defeat so we had to show a lot of character to win against Sunderland.
"I think that David Ngog did a very good job, he had a good game. Yossi Benayoun also played well and Pepe Reina was also very important for us when he saved early on in the game.
"But the whole team was always trying to pass the ball, we were very well organised. They were very good on the counter attack so we had to keep calm - we created a lot of chances.
"The reaction of the players was very good."
With the Reds now lying four points behind league leaders Manchester United - who have played two less games - Benitez admitted he will be watching Alex Ferguson's men take on Newcastle at St James' Park on Wednesday and hoping for the Magpies to do Liverpool a favour.
"We have to approach each game with confidence and just think about ourselves," said Benitez.
"But it also depends on what happens with the other results and we have to wait and see what happens with United on Wednesday.
"If United cannot win then it will be very good for us, clearly it will be very good if Newcastle can win."
No comments:
Post a Comment