Source: Eurosport
Benitez hails his battlers
Rafael Benitez has hailed his side's battling qualities as Liverpool's title challenge slowly ebbs away.
The Anfield boss knows leaders Manchester United will be champions for the third season in succession if they take a point from their home game with Arsenal on Saturday. Liverpool do not play again until Sunday's lunchtime trip to West Brom - and by then it is expected their only objective will be to claim four points from their final two games to at least secure the runners-up spot for only the third time in 18 seasons. And one more win will give them their biggest points haul in a Premier League campaign.
Such has been Liverpool's desire to end the season on a high, they have scored three or more goals in their last six fixtures for the first time in the club's history. But Benitez knows all that will be of little consequence to Liverpool fans who will have seen United equal the Anfield club's proud record of 18 league titles.
But at least Liverpool have made a fight of it right to the end, and given Benitez his best league finish at the club. The Spaniard, though, insists he is proud of his players and their attacking qualities, having scored 101 goals in all competitions this season.
Liverpool have constantly been criticised for being unattractive but Benitez said: "I do not think people realise how important it is to keep the balance (between defence and attack). Because we are organised some people say we are not an attacking team.
"It's so clear we are an attacking team and a very good attacking team. I think it is always important to score goals, but to score 119 last year and now more than 100 is very good.
It's not just the strikers as we have a lot of players who have scored for us. That is very good and it means the team have a very good offensive mentality and we still keep the balance and defend well. That is important for winning."
