Rafa disappointed by 'lucky' Reds

Liege were highly unfortunate not to have won this third qualifying round first-leg match, after a storming performance in front of their fanatical fans and a 0-0 draw will delight Liverpool, who turned in a worryingly disjointed performance.

Benitez said: "We were very lucky to have got away with a draw, very lucky not to have conceded goals. It was a very disappointing performance. But the team know they have to improve, and I did not have to say much to them in the dressing room, sometimes you do not need many words."

Liverpool's hero was goalkeeper Jose Reina, who saved a first-half penalty. The Spanish goalkeeper also looked to have clawed another effort back from behind the goal-line in a first-half when the Belgian champions threatened to overrun the Anfield side.

Benitez is putting his faith in a much improved display in the second leg at Anfield in a fortnight. If not, then Liverpool could go the same way as Rangers, who have also failed to get to the group stages of the lucrative competition.

Benitez said: "It will be different at Anfield, there we are expected to win and we will have our own fans behind us. Liege had their very noisy fans for the first leg."

The five-time European Cup winners could easily have finished the match three or four goals in arrears.

"We were not surprised by the fine performance of the Liege side, we had seen enough of them to know they were a good, aggressive side," Benitez added.

"The real surprise for me was the way Liverpool played. The only positive to take from the match was the fact that we did not concede a goal.

"We will have to be a lot better in the second leg at Anfield, much better."