Winning name of the game for defiant Benitez

MANAGER Rafael Benitez emerged from the prospect of an embarrassing 1-1 draw at Derby to see Liverpool’s title ambitions improve.

And the Liverpool boss is unmoved by the good fortune that saw captain Steven Gerrard claim a winner in the last few seconds to secure a victory at Pride Park that had not looked like coming.

But with Arsenal and Chelsea both drawing, Benitez knows his team have inched closer to their own unlikely dream as they are now nine points behind leaders Manchester United with a match in hand.