Benitez absolves profligate players

Leaders Arsenal and Manchester United drew 2-2 earlier in the day but the Anfield side failed to take full advantage after wasting a hatful of chances.

But Benitez insisted: "The team is progressing, we are creating enough chances to win every game and this is positive. We just need to take the chances."

With more composure Dirk Kuyt could easily have had a second-half hat-trick while captain Steven Gerrard was unusually wasteful in front of goal, twice firing at former Liverpool keeper Brad Friedel.

Substitute Peter Crouch also had a header cleared off the line by David Bentley as all the visitors' best chances came in the last 20 minutes.

But Benitez, although disappointed, stressed he felt the team had done enough to take all three points.

"With the chances that we had I think could have won - clearly in the second half," said the Spaniard.

"It is important for me to see the team going forward with confidence and pressing and controlling the game.

"If you don't play well and you don't create chances it is a problem but if you create chances in every game for me that is the most important thing.

"Blackburn were playing well and they had some opportunities, but especially at the end were controlling more and we kept possession."