Rafa Benitez eager to focus on positives for Liverpool FC

07 December 2009 00:00
RAFA BENITEZ insists the confidence in Liverpool's squad has drastically improved even though they failed to build on their derby day victory at Ewood Park.[LNB]The Reds, who looked to have turned the corner when they ground out a 2-0 win against Everton six days earlier, were held to a goal-less draw by a belligerent Blackburn side on Saturday and missed a chance to move back into the top four.[LNB]Benitez, though, was not too disheartened by what he saw and was quick to look for positives in the aftermath, despite Liverpool slipping down to seventh in the Premier League table.[LNB]Having endured a ruinous time in October and November, Benitez believes slowly but surely his team are starting to turn the corner and feels the evidence comes from the fact Liverpool are unbeaten in six and haven't conceded a goal for 284 minutes.[LNB]That said, Benitez - who will give Alberto Aquilani his first start against Fiorentina on Wednesday night - accepts there is still plenty of room for improvement but thinks that will come when the belief in the squad improves further.[LNB]'I thought we did well and the clean sheet is the positive thing,' Benitez pointed out.[LNB]'We were creating more chances, had better possession, and the other positive thing is that we played better than we did against Everton.[LNB]'(Steven) Gerrard was involved in the game and was good. But we're disappointed as we were pushing very hard and we had chances to win. But also at the end (Blackburn) could have scored on the counter-attack.[LNB]'It was disappointing because we had our chances, we were pushing and it was a corner for us. At the end we were defending a counter-attack.

Source: Liverpool_Echo