Benitez blames 'bad mistakes' for defeat

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Convincingly beaten 3-1 in their quarter-final first leg by Chelsea at Anfield on Wednesday night, Liverpool must now produce a miracle result at Stamford Bridge next Tuesday and score three times in 90 minutes.

He said: "I was disappointed with the manner of our defeat, and the bad mistakes we made at set pieces to allow them two goals. Now it will be very difficult. We have to score three times at Stamford Bridge, which is a tough call against a very good side."

The memory of Istanbul, and the four goals they scored at Manchester United this season, will sustain their stunned fans.

But Benitez insists that his first priority now is to stay in the Premier League title race by beating Blackburn on Saturday at Anfield.

He added: "Our first priority, though, is against Blackburn in the league, then we will see what we have to do at Chelsea."

Fernando Torres put Liverpool ahead early on, but two headers from set-pieces by Branislav Ivanovic put Chelsea in control, with Didier Drogba snatching a third to make the Merseysiders' task even more difficult.

Benitez said: "We scored first but after that we were never in control. We conceded a bad equaliser from a set-piece. That was not because of the zonal marking but because players made mistakes to allow people space and time.

"For their first goal there were three players near to the scorer and they were not able to stop him. And then something very similar happened for the second, we made bad mistakes at crucial times.

"Now we know we have a difficult task in the second-leg. We have to score three times and that will be very difficult. But we must believe we can do it. We have scored four at Manchester United so we know what we are capable of."