RAFAEL BENITEZ believes Liverpool have sent out a warning to their rivals for a top-four place by re-igniting hopes of Champions League qualification.
Dirk Kuyt scored twice as the Anfield outfit earned a richly-deserved 2-0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur last night.
The victory moves Liverpool side to within one point of the fourth-placed Londoners on an evening Benitez had admitted was “make or break” for his team’s Premier League campaign.
And the Spaniard reckons Manchester City and Aston Villa will have also taken note of the result while convinced his players will improve in the second half of the season.
“Everybody knows Liverpool are a good team, and it was a question of time before we started winning games and showing quality,” said Benitez. “The other teams are also strong but they know the race is now four teams, and we are back in it. We can get better in the second half of the season. It’s a question of having all the players available and if not, seeing the ones working as hard as today. Normally in the last five years, we have done better in the second half of the league.”
A much-depleted Liverpool – still missing Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun, Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson – dug deep to record their fourth win in their last six league games and avenge the opening-day defeat at White Hart Lane.
“The win was important for everyone at the club, we knew that we had to win to stay in the race,” said Benitez. “The attitude was same as Stoke – real character.
“It was important for us to score first and early. Tottenham were playing well, we weren’t in control in the first half but we still had the better chances. In the second half, the difference was more clear.
“When we scored first, Tottenham had to go forward and we had some spaces at the end as they had to take more risks.”
Benitez added: “The squad is not as bad as people have been saying. We were without six players who couldn’t start tonight. They are players with quality, and it meant the rest of the squad had to show character.
“When the quality players in the squad are doing well, then it’s easier for the other players. But with them not there, the other players have stepped up and done well. Winning games always gives you confidence, but we had to win to reduce the gap to the top four. The game against Stoke was very difficult and this was no different, but we have managed to win this time.
“The players know this is the way we have to do things – working as hard as today and getting a bit of luck.”
Kuyt gave Liverpool a sixth-minute lead before sealing the victory in injury time with a twice-taken penalty.
And Benitez said: “Kuyt is working very hard, and he could have scored four today. His commitment is always 100% and we are pleased with him. For the penalty, he showed great composure, but you would always expect that from him. He has a lot of experience now, he has scored a lot of goals in Holland and here. Normally Gerrard takes the penalties, but Kuyt has shown he can take them as well.”
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp admits his team missed an opportunity to open a gap in fourth place and believes the race for the final Champions League place remains in the balance. Redknapp said: “It’s open. I wouldn’t like to say. Man City, Liverpool, Villa and Tottenham, it’s a toss up. We’d been on a good run and losing one game doesn’t mean we are out of it.
“But tonight was a good chance for us. When you come here and see Liverpool are without Gerrard, Torres, Benayoun and Johnson, you think you have a better opportunity to win.
“I came here thinking we could win but I was disappointed really. To be fair, they worked very hard, they pressed us and closed us down and made it difficult. But when you have that noise before the game from these Liverpool supporters, their team has no choice but to run out and give everything.
“The atmosphere around the ground before kick-off was quite amazing. I thought their players put a real shift in. Kuyt never stopped, he put our defenders under pressure all game.”
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