Real Madrid 0-1 Liverpool

Real Madrid coach Juande Ramos praised Liverpool's defence after his side's 1-0 Champions League defeat at the Bernabeu.

Madrid went into last night's knock-out round first leg against Rafael Benitez's side having won their last nine Primera Liga matches and having scored 10 goals in their previous two outings.

But the Spanish giants barely created a chance of note against Liverpool's well-marshalled defence before Yossi Benayoun's late header put the visitors in pole position to make the
quarter-finals.

Former Spurs manager Ramos said: “Liverpool have to be credited for their defensive work.

“Our intention was to score at home and record a good advantage to go into the second leg but they didn't given us any space.

“There were hardly any chances and at the end it has been a set-piece that they took advantage of that separates the teams.

“Liverpool played how we expected. They've tried to keep a clean sheet and it's us who had to take risks.

“We've tried to create chances but they've defended well.”

Despite suffering only his second defeat since replacing Bernd Schuster in the Bernabeu hot-seat before Christmas, Ramos still believes his team can turn things around at Anfield.

He added: “We are going to fight and work hard in the return match to see if we are capable of winning at Anfield. It's a bad result but we are confident for the return leg.”

Benitez, meanwhile, is confident of making progress in discussions over his new Liverpool contract in the wake of his side's victory.

The Spaniard has been locked in talks with the club's owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, over a new four-year deal for several weeks.

Benitez said: “I believe that problems we have can be overcome. I was very surprised to hear rumours that I was going to resign.

“I can assure you that I have not been considering such a move and it was a shock to hear such suggestions.

“It needs to be clear that I was not thinking of resigning. My aim is to keep working and winning and to tell the owners that on the pitch.”