Benitez left looking for positives

For the 10th time in the Barclays Premier League this season Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was left trying to accentuate the positives after a defeat.

The 2-1 reverse against Manchester United at Old Trafford yesterday was another blow to the Reds’ hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

His side dropped to sixth after both Tottenham and Manchester City won over the weekend and they are now four points adrift of fourth place.

Benitez knows the odds are against his side clawing back that deficit, with seventh-placed Aston Villa also having matches in hand.

But he insists they will continue fighting to the end of the season.

“We had 90 minutes to do well but sometimes you cannot and then you have to understand the team is still strong and we were solid,” he said.

“It was close but the little things make a difference. United at Old Trafford didn’t create too much so that is a positive.

“Hopefully we can take this for the future and win our games and see what happens with the other teams.”