Rafa blasts showboating Reds

And Liverpool boss has injury worries over Gerrard, Keane and Alonso

Last updated: 22nd October 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Rafa blasts showboating Reds

Benitez: Not impressed

We had control, but we were trying to be too precise in the final third. Sometimes you have to finish.

Rafa Benitez
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Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has warned his players that they must become more ruthless in front of goal in the wake of their UEFA Champions League draw at Atletico Madrid.

The Reds remain unbeaten in all competitions this season, but they have now surrendered their 100 per cent record in Group D of Europe's premier club competition.

Benitez was disappointed to see his side give up the lead at Vicente Calderon as Simao Sabrosa hit an 83rd minute equaliser to cancel out Robbie Keane's first half opener.

Republic of Ireland international Keane had an excellent chance to double Liverpool's lead in the first 45 minutes, but the striker opted to attempt an audacious back-heeled flick from Steve Gerrard's cross when the basic would have sufficed.

And Benitez was not impressed, telling Sky Sports 2: "My idea was that we could play better.

Control

"We had chances and if you don't finish these games, these things (equalisers) can happen.

"We were playing well and had control, but we were trying to be too precise in the final third. Sometimes you have to finish.

"We were passing and passing and trying to give the perfect pass. It doesn't matter how you score, you have to score, that is it.

"It is positive. We have seven points so it is not a bad position. But when you concede in the 83rd minute you have to be disappointed."

Meanwhile, Benitez - who takes his team to Chelsea for a top-of-the-table Premier League clash on Sunday - has revealed that he has injury concerns over captain Gerrard, Keane and Xabi Alonso after the trio were substituted in the second half.

Serious

"It think they will be okay, but we had Alonso, Keane and Gerrard with knocks," added Benitez. "We needed to change them because they had muscle problems. We will see."

Keane, though, is confident his groin injury is not too serious as Liverpool - who are already without Fernando Torres - prepare for their trip to Stamford Bridge.

"In the first 20 minutes of the game I just tweaked my groin," said Keane. "I don't think it is too serious. I'm under the weather a little bit, which didn't help."

Keane, who joined the Reds from Tottenham in the summer, also held his hands up for the miss which angered his manager.

"Those balls move all over the place in the wind," he continued. "No excuse, I should have got something on it."