Rafa rues dent to title tilt

Anfield boss plays down rumours regarding unused Keane

Last updated: 13th December 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Rafa rues dent to title tilt

Benitez: Frustrated

If you want to stay at the top of the table you have to win these games.

Rafa Benitez
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Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez confesses that his Premier League title-chasing side could regret their failure to convert draws into victories at Anfield.

Following stalemates with Fulham and West Ham, the Reds suffered a third successive deadlock on Merseyside as Hull City produced another impressive away performance to secure a 2-2 draw on Saturday.

Tigers boss Phil Brown had seen his side take a two-goal lead courtesy of a Paul McShane header and a Jamie Carragher own goal.

And after watching Steven Gerrard rescue a point with an eight-minute first-half brace, Benitez admits improvements are needed.

"We are really disappointed because these are the sort of games we have to win. We conceded two goals and made two big mistakes," Benitez told Sky Sports.

Rumours

"After the two goals we had to react. The players were fantastic and the reaction was really good.

"For me it is a pity but you can say the same things, you have to score and you have to win.

"If you want to stay at the top of the table you have to win these games."

Benitez left under-pressure striker Robbie Keane as an unused substitute as Nabil El Zhar, Ryan Babel and Lucas Leiva were introduced from the bench after the interval

However, the former Valencia boss insists that a tactical decision is no reason to stoke rumours his misfiring £20million summer signing is heading for a January exit.

When asked about his decision not to use Keane, Benitez added: "We were thinking about the wingers. Some times more people in the box is not the answer."