Rafa unruffled by lacklustre Liverpool

A confession that the Liverpool manager was the slightest perturbed by his side's preparations was never likely, despite a listless 1-0 win over PSV Eindhoven being followed by even fewer signs of life in a drab goalless draw against Manchester City.

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While he insisted there was no cause for alarm, he did at least concede there was plenty of room for improvement if the dream of a second Champions League triumph in three seasons were to be kept alive.

In a stark warning to his players, with the first leg at Stamford Bridge just over a week away, Benitez said their lethargy could cost them dear and urged them to snap out of it.

He said: "It is clear we will have to step things up against Chelsea. We have to be at our best going into those two games, and that means improving on this performance.

"I am not unduly worried because it will be different against Chelsea. The players know what is at stake and what is needed, and I'm sure they will respond. We will be ready for the challenge."

Despite his demeanour, Benitez has plenty to occupy his thoughts, not least where goals might come from in the absence of Peter Crouch and why Steven Gerrard's form slumped so alarmingly in possibly the most error-strewn 90 minutes of his Liverpool career.

The inspirational skipper can rarely have been dispossessed so often or misplaced so many routine five-yard passes.

With Crouch on the bench and Craig Bellamy injured, the scoring spotlight fell on Dirk Kuyt and exposed the one shortcoming that has hampered his first season in the Premiership.

Willing workhorse he may be but a modest return of 11 goals in 42 appearances suggests he is ill-equipped for a lone front-running role which, by Benitez's admission, can be entrusted only to the surest of finishers.

Once Jermaine Pennant failed to make the most of hesitancy from Michael Ball in the fifth minute, there was little to suggest Liverpool might rediscover the touch that brought them nine goals against Arsenal, PSV in the first leg and Reading.

City were no better and, despite DaMarcus Beasley clipping the bar in the 75th minute, looked the side who had failed to score at home in the Premiership since New Year's Day.

Assistant manager Steve Wigley said: "You can always produce stats but the ones I prefer to concentrate on show that during a five-game unbeaten run we have kept four clean sheets and taken 11 points from 15."