Rafa Benitez insisted that Liverpool remain well placed for next week’s return fixture against Arsenal after tonight’s 1-1 draw at the Emirates.
“In the second-half we knew that we were running a lot in the first-half, they had plenty of possession so it’s difficult to keep the team working as hard as in the first-half so we needed to change players.”
“I think it (the away goal) is crucial in Europe.
“You know that Arsenal is a team that also can score away but at least we will have now in our hands the options.
Benitez would not be drawn as to whether he would keep the same tactics for next weeks game:
“We will see – it depends on the physical condition of the players and if we can keep the ball more than today.”
“We are in a good position, playing at Anfield with our supporters who are a massive difference.
“But against a good team with the quality you could see today we need to play counter-attack and working very hard in defence.”
i hope liverpool dont sit back as much as they did against arsenal in the first leg of the champions league tommorow night.it is crucial that alosnso and mascherano win the midfield battle thus allowing kuyt and torres to receive a regular supply of quality ball something they don’t rreceive regularly enough.there must be a marked improvement in their defending of set- pieces, again on saturday liverpool were guilty of marking space, if they persisit in this method arsenal will score ,of that there is no doubt.please mark players not space, this is england not the continent.concentrate and kkep a good shape, but don’t depend pn sparodic attacks to score.play and plan to win, fortune favours the brave and the adventurous. good luck and go on to win the final, hopefully against manchester united.also end the premiership season on a high by winning all your remaiining games- home and away.liverppol’s passing and retention ogf the ball also needs working on to improve, particularly when the team wont have the ball.