Benitez takes the long view

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez admits the next month is an important one for his team but he will not be paying too much attention to the Barclays Premiership table.

Yesterday’s 4-0 victory over Fulham lifted the Reds into fourth place but with the situation so tight at the top – and Arsenal having a match in hand even after their trip to Chelsea – positions can change very quickly.

Just four points separate third and 10th place and two bad results can see teams quickly drop down the table.

Next Saturday’s trip to struggling Charlton is the start of seven matches in 22 days, which includes the Carling Cup quarter-final and FA Cup third round ties at home to Arsenal.

But with none of the top teams to play in the league during that period it represents a great chance for Liverpool to strengthen their case for a Champions League spot.

Benitez, however, sees it differently.

“We need to keep it going and we are watching every game. After one or two months we will see what the situation is,” said the Spaniard.

“Now it is important to see all the players ready because December is a very difficult month with a lot of games in a row.

“Being fourth in the table is not the most important thing for me now and we are not watching the table every week.”

For the second successive week Liverpool scored four goals in one half. Last week at Wigan they came before the interval, yesterday at Anfield it was afterwards.

Benitez’s side dominated a game Fulham had set out to draw from the first whistle but they lacked composure in the final third.

In only the fifth minute Dirk Kuyt, restored to the starting line-up as one of five changes from the Champions League defeat to Galatasaray, combined with Craig Bellamy down the left.

When the Wales striker’s shot was half-blocked, Luis Garcia stabbed an effort past goalkeeper Jan Lastuvka only for Liam Rosenior to clear off the line.

John Arne Riise, Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia, Kuyt and Jermaine Pennant all had chances which were more in hope than expectation as Liverpool finished a goalless first half frustrated.

But after the break representatives from Dubai International Capital, the investment arm of the Dubai government who are in talks about a takeover of the club, who were sat in the directors’ box certainly got their money’s worth.

In the 53rd minute Bellamy’s cut-back to Kuyt saw the Holland international’s shot blocked by Ian Pearce’s arms and referee Uriah Rennie had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Steven Gerrard’s effort was well saved low to Lastuvka’s left but the Liverpool captain followed up to drive home.

Defender Daniel Agger had a hand in the next two goals, firstly nodding on Gerrard’s corner for Jamie Carragher to score his first league goal in seven years and 11 months by stabbing home at the far post.

The Denmark centre-back then crossed from the left for Garcia to head in the third after 67 minutes.

In injury time Robbie Fowler, a late substitute for Garcia, was brought down on the edge of the penalty area and Mark Gonzalez, an earlier replacement for Kuyt, curled in a left-footed free-kick.

Benitez, who for most of the season has been deflecting criticism about Liverpool’s lack of goals, was pleased to see the players’ hard work finally paying off.

“I remember when we were losing I said we had a lot of opportunities and we needed to be more successful in front of goal,” he said.

“Now you can see these things. It is positive but you have to find the balance in defence. Don’t just talk about eight goals (in two matches), but two clean sheets. This, maybe, is more important.”

Although the goal for Carragher, whose last league strike came on January 16 1999 in the 7-1 victory over Southampton, came as a surprise to most, Benitez revealed it was directly as a result of a change in tactics.

“I’m really pleased for him. We changed his movement and said he must got to the second (far) post and he was there,” he explained.

“It is important for all the players to score and I think for his confidence it will be good.”

Fulham manager Chris Coleman, for whom everything seemed to be going to plan after 45 minutes, criticised his side’s lack of patience after falling behind.

“You have to make sure you stay in the game when you lose a goal and not be arrogant enough to think as soon as you have conceded you have to go and score at the other end,” he said.

“You have to bide your time and they didn’t do that.”