Benitez pleased with draw

Liverpool boss believes away goal is crucial

Last updated: 2nd April 2008

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Benitez: Pleased

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Rafa Benitez believes Liverpool secured a good result after the Reds 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates on Wednesday night.

Emmanuel Adebayor put the Gunners in front in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg when rising unchallenged to nod home Robin van Persie's cross.

But their lead was short-lived as Dirk Kuyt got the equaliser just three minutes later after a great run and cross by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

Arsenal had the better of the play but could not make their dominance pay, although they had a clear penalty appeal turned down after Kuyt had appeared to pull down Alexander Hleb in the box.

Benitez said afterwards that he was pleased with his team, believing they had worked "really, really hard."

Asked how concerned he was about the pressure they were under in the second-half, he told Sky Sports: "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."

Crucial

Asked how important he thinks the away goal is, he added: "I think it 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."

Asked if he will expect to play in a similar style for next week's second-leg, he added: "We will see - it depends on the physical condition of the players and if we can keep the ball more than today."

He believes his team are in a good position, saying: "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 counterattack and working very hard in defense."