Benitez blames 'bad mistakes' for Chelsea defeat

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez admitted that his side now have a mountain to climb if they are to stay in the Champions League.

Convincingly beaten 3-1 in their quarter-final first leg by Chelsea at Anfield last night, Liverpool must now produce a miracle result at Stamford Bridge next Tuesday and score three times in 90 minutes.

The memory of Istanbul, and the four goals they scored at Manchester United this season, will sustain their stunned fans.

But Benitez insists that his first priority now is to stay in the Premier League title race by beating Blackburn on Saturday at Anfield.

He said: “I was disappointed with the manner of our defeat, and the bad mistakes we made at set pieces to allow them two goals.

“Now it will be very difficult. We have to score three times at Stamford Bridge, which is a tough call against a very good side.

“Our first priority, though, is against Blackburn in the league, then we will see what we have to do at Chelsea.”