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Rafael Benitez blames mistakes for Aston Villa defeat
25 Aug 2009
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez condemned his players for making "too many mistakes" as they slumped to their second Barclays Premier League defeat in nine days.
Beaten at Tottenham on the opening weekend, they recovered to over-power Stoke in midweek, only to slump to a disheartening 3-1 home defeat at the hands of a vibrant Aston Villa at Anfield.
It was Villa's first win of the season, and ended Liverpool's 31-match unbeaten league run dating back to December 2007.
And the reverse already puts in doubt Liverpool's title aspirations. They only lost two league games last season, now they have equalled that tally in the opening days of the new campaign.
Villa were two-up at the break through a Lucas own goal and a header from Curtis Davies. Torres pulled one back in the second-half, but Steven Gerrard's lunge at Nigel Reo-Coker conceded a spot-kick that Ashley Young confidently drove home.
Benitez said: "In the first 20 minutes we created plenty of chances and played well. Then we conceded the own goal and started to make more mistakes.
"We have lost and we know we have to improve. I felt we had a chance when Fernando Torres scored, but the penalty finished it. It was a clear penalty.
"We now know that we have to go to Bolton on Saturday and win. Everything could change if we do that, our confidence will improve."
Benitez added: "We were not playing well, and we were up against a team who are excellent on the counter-attack.
"Their keeper (Brad Friedel) made some great saves, but when that happens we just have to make more chances.
"This squad is virtually the same as last season, so I believe it is good enough to mount a title challenge. But we must do more, we must win at Bolton.
"We will have to sit down and analyse every player now, and make sure we do the right things in our next match. But our senior players must take more responsibility."
Villa boss Martin O'Neill said: "That was a terrific effort from my team. At 2-0 we were in reasonable command of the game, although you are never in command at Anfield.
"But when they scored we got a penalty straightaway, a clean penalty, and we were back with our two goal lead.
"That gave us confidence, discipline and shape to our team and we deserved to win.
"Brad Friedel was outstanding. He rolled back the years. He was fantastic against his old club to perform like that at Anfield.
"He will be delighted with himself, and rightly so, and we are delighted with him."
"It was a fantastic performance from the whole side and we fully deserved the victory."
Reader views (8)
God Benitez,what an annoying baby you are,please shut up and become a manager if that is possible,you'r worse than Miss Piggy.
- Keith, South Carolina,USA, 26/08/2009 04:40
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Spurs and Villa showed that great organisation and a solid defence can never be underestimated. Unfortunately, Liverpool's attitude portrays an arrogance in expecting teams to just roll over and give up when confronted by media darlin's Gerrard and Torres. These two and Rafa especially, get all "narked" when the opposition doesn't and whinge and whine relentlessly about unfair treatment mooted out by players and officials alike towards them. No wonder, the neutral delights in their downfall.
- Paul, Feltham, 25/08/2009 13:29
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Gerrard?
Not so brave when his thuggish mates are not around to fight his battles for him. Have yet to see him confront an opponent on the football pitch, just skulks away like the coward that he is.
- James, Manchester England, 25/08/2009 13:18
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Liverpool need at least two more strikers,and a decent central mid field plater to stand any chance of even making the top four.My money is on them to be relegated,Gerald of to Chelsea and torres of to Man city.
- David, london, 25/08/2009 11:52
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Oh happy day. Scousers in disarray and the waiter whinging.
- Barry Chapman, Welwyn England, 25/08/2009 10:58
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'Have you ever seen Gerrard win the League'? 'Will you ever see Gerrard win the League'? Lets hope he got to control the play list after last nights game:)
- Blue, SW6, 25/08/2009 09:26
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It's Benitez who has made mistakes. He has a bare eleven, whose two "stars" are prone to injury and a bench that contains players who would struggle to get a game in a Championship side.
- Mark, South-East London, 25/08/2009 09:16
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Oh dear Rafa,what rant will you come up with now,i bet his backside is twitching now,2 defeats,his team spent most of the game arguing at anyone,throwing their arms about and moaning like spoilt kids at the officials..they were outplayed AGAIN for the 2nd time this season, take Gerrard and Torres and they would be a very ordinary side. NO money too spend,and deep down even Mr Rant knows they do not have a squad that is good enough or deep enough to compete.
The zonal marking game is a load of nonsense ,teams are sussung it out.
i for one dislike Rafa,he is arrogant,quick to point the blame,and he needs to realise he has had the money in the last few seasons and plenty of it,it has just been wasted timme after time on players that are not good enough...FACT
- Phil, berks, 25/08/2009 09:08
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