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Benitez admits Latics surprise

20 Oct 2008 - 09:37:00

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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez admitted that his side had been surprised by the attacking play of Wigan Athletic, before the Reds eventually secured a 3-2 victory at Anfield.

The home side trailed 2-1 at the interval and needed goals in the final ten minutes from Albert Riera and Dirk Kuyt to take all three points, after the Latics had been reduced to ten men by the dismissal of Antonio Valencia.

Benitez told the Daily Post: "I don't like to do it this way. At the end if we have won then everyone will be happy, but for the fans and everyone involved with us I think it's better to score and play well in the first half and enjoy the game.

"It's always very difficult after an international break. We knew that Wigan were playing well and they were strong. We started with the right mentality because the warm-up was good, but they started really well.

"Little by little we were improving, but we conceded the goal and we needed to work harder again.

"For me, the team before the game was okay, it was ready, but from the first minute we were a little surprised.

"They were very aggressive and very quick pressing, so we needed to keep the ball, but were giving it away too easily.

"In the game at the end of the first half we were playing better, but sometimes you make a mistake and everything changes."