Rafa frustrated by Rovers

Benitez: Unhappy

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Rafa Benitez was left clearly frustrated at Blackburn's robust style of play as his Liverpool side recorded a narrow 2-1 win at Anfield on Sunday.

The Reds boss saw his side struggle at times against Sam Allardyce's men but first-half goals from Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres either side of a penalty from Blackburn's Keith Andrews gave the hosts all three points.

The win keeps Liverpool in sixth, just one point behind Tottenham in that all important race for fourth spot with both Spurs and Manchester City also recording wins at the weekend.

However Blackburn's behaviour, Pascal Chimbonda and Steven N'Zonzi can both count themselves extremely lucky to have escaped with yellow cards when red was perhaps more appropriate, while El-Hadji Diouf was always walking a disciplinary tightrope, left Benitez feeling rather irritated.

"We had to win and we won," he stated.

"We won and that is the most important thing. I don't know but I was really surprised that it was just five (bookings for Blackburn).

"It doesn't matter - we won.

"It is really important (the way to play) but sometimes we cannot play football.

"Nzonzi was very clear, touching the face of Lucas, and the rules are the rules.

"We have had four of five players with problems, bleeding, and Maxi with stud

(marks) in his abdomen. Interesting - but we won."

Frustrated

Benitez, who had a strained relationship with Allardyce before the match, continued and when asked whether the referee Alan Wiley should have come down harder on the visitors' behaviour the Spaniard replied, rather tongue in cheek: "I think that everybody knows that his (Allardyce) teams play great football under this manager.

"When you play these kind of games you have to win and we did. I don't know if he (Allardyce) has had contact with (referee chief) Keith Hackett maybe he should know.

"We try to do our talking on the pitch. If they are pleased with the way they play under this manager it is their decision.

"They have a style and they are a team that plays this way under this manager. We won so they have to be thinking about whether the style is good or not.

"Some people have to talk before the press conference or after because it is more difficult for them to do a football job.

"I think it is a model for all the managers around the world, their style of football, his behaviour.

"It is the perfect model for all the kids and I'm sure all parents will enjoy this model and encourage their kids to be the same.

"The style of football, I think, Barcelona are thinking of copying."