Source: Liverpool_Echo
Liverpool FC boss Rafa Benitez takes positives from Wigan win
LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez admitted the 2-1 victory over Wigan mattered more than the performance on an emotional night at Anfield.[LNB]With the club celebrating the 50th anniversary of legendary boss Bill Shankly's first game in charge, a host of former stars were paraded at half-time.[LNB]But having stumbled through the last two months Benitez said three points was the only thing his side had to worry about.[LNB]Young French striker David Ngog's 10th-minute glancing header from Fabio Aurelio's cross and Fernando Torres' second-half scrambled effort proved enough to see off the Latics, for whom Charles N'Zogbia scored an injury-time consolation.[LNB]The victory lifts Liverpool back up to sixth, although they are still five points adrift of the Champions League places.[LNB]It was only their fourth win in 16 matches and just their second at Anfield since September 26.[LNB]But the triumph will do much for the team's shaky confidence.[LNB]'It was very important to win, to get three points, with a lot of positives,' said Benitez.[LNB]'It does not matter if we couldn't score more goals and be more relaxed in the second half but, at the end of the day, three points is key.[LNB]'We needed to get these three points and be ready for the next game. We are thinking about one game at a time so now Portsmouth (on Saturday) is the target.'[LNB]Benitez explained he held back Torres for his 100th appearance until the second half as the striker is still feeling the effects of having missed six matches since the start of November.[LNB]'I wanted to keep him back because he was really tired after the last game (Sunday's defeat to Arsenal).
