Benitez hungry for more as Liverpool’s roll starts to gather momentum

Man City 0 Liverpool 1

Conservative, diligent, hard grafting are all plaudits that used to be applied to Benitez and his respected if never really loved Valencia, who gained the unflattering title of the “crushing machine” in Spain.

They were rarely pretty to watch. Cue this emerging Liverpool who are starting to set records that are music to boss Benitez’s ears.

They may lack the silk of Arsenal or the steel of Chelsea, but six games unbeaten - six clean sheets and four successive league victories - suggest Liverpool are on the move.

Benitez says: “We have a balance, we are defending much better than last season. The problem will be for us to maintain this level throughout the season.

“It is the most consistent the team has played under me. Last season it was difficult to win away games or keep clean sheets, but we are more consistent and teams find it difficult to make chances against us.”

Nine clean sheets in the first 12 league games of a season is already a club record, while six games unbeaten is Benitez’s best run in England.

And on his 50th Premiership game, the fact that Liverpool have already achieved 16 clean sheets in 25 games, compared to just 18 in 60 last season, says everything.

Benitez said: “The defence was compact and strong throughout. We are on a good run and that means the players have more confidence in what they are doing.

“But they must understand how we have arrived at this point, and that has been because everyone is working very hard and doing the right things in possession and when we haven’t got the ball. They must remember.

“It took me three years to build Valencia’s team, that was easier for me because it was in my country.

“This Liverpool team has been growing. Each day I learn more and the players also know more about what I want and when I say something to them now they understand much better. Not because of the language, but because they understand more how I want them to play.”

He added: “It took a long time to create my Valencia team. They knew exactly what was wanted in every game, but it takes time to create that again. I have had 50 league games here, now I want 250 and to see the statistics then.

“I am here for a long time and will work day by day, to create what I want. But the players understand now more what me and my staff require, if they continue to work as hard, we will continue to improve.

City boss Stuart Pearce admitted: “They are European champions and are ahead of us on know-how even if in pains me to say so.

“We were facing a side with great pedigree and experience and when they got their noses in front they made it very difficult.

“We have young players who are learning. Stevie Ireland was playing against the European champions when a few weeks ago he hadn’t played against anybody.”

Opta Fact: Liverpool have failed to score in the first half of any of their last eight Premiership away games.

Opta Fact: Man City have not conceded a first half goal in any of their six Premiership home games.