Kewell strikes but frustrated Benitez wants more goals

Liverpool 1 Man City 0

Liverpool are behind United on goal difference and stay third in the Premiership, but they are eight points clear of fourth-placed Tottenham.

In terms of Champions League qualification, they also stand 11 points ahead of Blackburn in fifth.

Yesterday’s 1-0 win over Manchester City was Liverpool’s third such league scoreline on the trot, and Benitez said: “I am not happy with the final scoreline, it was another 1-0 win and another very important three points, but I would like to see us score more goals.”

City were reduced to 10 men in the second half after Joey Barton’s red card, but Liverpool were unable to ram home the advantage handed them by Harry Kewell’s earlier strike.

“We certainly need to be able to finish games off when we do go ahead. At the moment when it is only one goal you put yourselves under too much pressure,” said Benitez. “And when teams go down to 10 men against us it is always difficult, because they defend in a different way. We became nervous and they had chances, we controlled the game better with 11 men.”

Liverpool made heavy weather after Barton was sent off in front of England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson. Liverpudlian Barton, booked in the first half, received a second yellow card from referee Dermot Gallagher after a late tackle on Sami Hyypia. That seemed to inspire City and they could easily have got something from the game after seeing Barton trudge off for the second time in his career.

Liverpool had some early joy down the flanks with Harry Kewell getting in behind Danny Mills to fire over a cross which ex-Red David James took with assurance. Then a couple of Gerrard corners gave opportunities for Crouch in the air before Sylvain Distin blocked a Kewell effort eight yards out.

City’s response was a flurry of midfield activity and a clever run past four defenders by Greek striker Georgios Samaras, before both Xabi Alonso and Barton had to go off following a clash of heads. But the crowd were being lulled back to sleep and were only roused when Barton clattered into Agger. The Scouser in the City ranks was suitably apologetic, but it did not stop ref Gallagher showing a yellow card.

A minute later Alonso, feeling the after-effects of the earlier clash of heads, was replaced by Dietmar Hamann. But on 40 minutes Liverpool made the breakthrough. Play switched from right to left rapidly, Hyypia’s header was hooked perfectly into Kewell’s path by Gerrard. The Australian raced into acres of space, with Mills nowhere to be seen until far too late, and the winger drilled the ball inside the far post with James helpless.

Sami Hyypia, twice clattered earlier by Samaras, was in the wars again on 52 minutes when Barton went late on the Finland international’s ankle and was promptly given a second yellow and sent off by referee Gallagher.

City’s response was impressive as they adjusted to playing with 10 men and forced a number of saves from Jose Reina. They were being roared on by their fans and brought Stephen Ireland on in place of Sinclair on 67 minutes but the equaliser remained elusive. City chief Stuart Pearce refused to be critical of referee Gallagher, for Barton’s dismissal. “I am a great believer in the fact that if a referee says something is a foul, that’s it. If he says it’s a booking you have to live with it. Dermot Gallagher is an honest man and gives the decisions as he sees them. Maybe Joey needs to be a bit cuter, a bit more clever with his tackles.”

Opta Fact: Liverpool have seen 10 opponents sent off this season, a Premiership high.

Opta Fact: James has kept one clean sheet in 10 Premiership games against Liverpool.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Agger, Hyypia, Riise, Kromkamp, Gerrard, Alonso (Hamann 31), Kewell (Traore 85), Crouch (Garcia 75), Morientes.

MAN CITY: James, Danny Mills, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Sinclair (Ireland 67), Barton, Musampa, Riera (Croft 78), Samaras, Sibierski (Wright-Phillips 45).

Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).