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Rafael Benitez |
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LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez is hoping that his side can take their midweek
Champions League form into the Premier League and start turning their home draws
into victories.
Although Liverpool remain along with Arsenal one of only two clubs unbeaten so far
during the Premier League campaign, they have only won one of their five league
games to date.
With eight potential points dropped so far at Anfield, Benitez’s side are currently
seventh in the table but had they turned those draws into wins then they would now
be standing at the Premier League’s summit ahead of Arsenal and Manchester United.
Benitez said: “The key is to be as good as before at Anfield because last season
we were really good at Anfield so we must try and do the same – hopefully the last
game (8-0 against Besiktas) will help because people will have more confidence and
will know that we can score goals.
“We cannot continue drawing games at home we need to start winning right now that
is clear because we want to be as close as possible to the top of the table so we
need to win at home and away, starting against Fulham.”
Apart from the 6-0 crushing of bottom club Derby County, Chelsea (1-1), Birmingham
(0-0), Tottenham (2-2) and Arsenal (1-1) have all returned from Anfield this season
with a share of the spoils.
The differences between success and failure can often be subtle and Benitez points
out that with a little bit of good fortune then his side’s home record in the Premier
League could be much healthier.
He said: “If you analyse some of the games, Chelsea we must win, Arsenal we could
win but was really difficult and the others against Tottenham we were winning 1-0
and had two clear chances and made two mistakes and against Birmingham we had control
to the last 10 to 15 minutes and they had two counter attacks.
“The difference of maybe one goal could make a big difference in the table.
“The other day you could see that the team was doing the right things from the beginning,
creating chances, passing the ball and moving the ball. Sometimes when you score
the first goal you have the confidence that you need.”
Seeing Liverpool dismantle Besiktas so easily on Tuesday night cannot have been comfortable viewing for Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez given that his side have failed
to win away so far this season and have only picked up two Premier League wins in
total away from Craven Cottage in 43 games since the end of the 2004/05 season.
During that period, Liverpool have triumphed over Fulham 4-0 and 5-1 at Anfield,
where the Londoners have never won.
However, Benitez does not believe that the Besiktas result will have a great effect
on his team’s opponents. He said: “Fulham know that it is a different competition,
playing in the Premier League rather than the Champions League.
“They have experience of playing at Anfield and will try and play a physical game
and be very compact.
“They will try and play counter attacking football because they are scoring goals
away and for them it will be more or less the situation that it was before.”