Source: Eurosport
Rafa hails Reds' winning mentality
Rafael Benitez hailed Liverpool's "winning mentality" after seeing Yossi Benayoun come off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner at Fulham.
The 1-0 triumph at Craven Cottage put Liverpool top of the Premier League, two points ahead at leastuntil Manchester United play Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.
It left the travelling supporters singing "We're gonna win the league" - perhaps for the first time in 19 years.And it saw Benitez leaping into the air in a show of uncharacteristic emotion at the final whistle.
He said: "I haven't seen myself yet but it was a very, very important goal at a crucial time.
"There was relief. You cannot say you will score in the last minute but we always play to the end.
"We have the winning mentality. It is better not to say things but to do things and the players always believe they can score in the last minute."
Benitez had started Benayoun on the bench because he was suffering from a slight hamstring problem and the chances are he will fulfil the same role on Wednesday in the Champions League quarter-final first leg at Anfield against Chelsea.
"We had to protect him, he is not 100% fit," said Benitez, who otherwise played a virtually full strength side and saw them hit the woodwork four times in a dramatic first half, twice through Andrea Dossena and once each through Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres.
It looked as if the Craven Cottage curse which has seen Arsenal and Manchester United lose and Chelsea draw at Fulham this season was to claim another high-profile victim.
But then came Benayoun's late, late, right-foot winner from 10 yards. Benitez revealed he would probably watch United's match on television unless he was relaxing with the family. But he was delighted to have sent Liverpool's fans home with renewed hope of a first league title since 1990.
The Spaniard said: "Hopefully we can keep them happy to the end.
"Today I was really pleased. We have a lot of confidence, but as a manager you have to be calm."
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson, meanwhile, was devastated after seeing his side fight so hard, only to lose out so close to the final whistle.
Hodgson said: "It's a bitter blow to lose in injury-time after such a battling performance against an in-form team. That is frustrating and disappointing.
"We had dangerous situations. They had more possession but we dealt with things reasonably well. I cannot fault the players for their commitment.
"But when you can bring on players like (Ryan) Babel and Benayoun it is a great advantage. Benayoun's goal was a bit fortunate but he took it very well."
Asked who he thought would go on to win the league, Hodgson said: "They are two great teams and I have respect for both clubs and managers."
