Liverpool 1 Everton 0: Relieved Rafa admits Moyes' men let Reds escape
Feb 08 2010 - 00:17:02
It had been bruising and at times brutal out on the pitch, and Rafa Benitez was taking no prisoners off it as he delivered a blunt assessment of how Everton had failed to capitalise on their numerical supremacy.
A man short after losing defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos to a 35th-minute red card, Liverpool made light of their disadvantage by going in front with a 55th-minute header from Dirk Kuyt and holding out with surprising ease.
By common consent, Everton had missed an opportunity but Benitez took the post-match analysis a step further by accusing opposite number David Moyes of playing into Liverpool's hands.
In-form: Dirk Kuyt nods his fourth goal in four Premier League games
The Liverpool manager has seldom looked so animated as when hepunched the air at the final whistle and it may well have been repeatedafter Manchester City lost at Hull and Tottenham and Aston Villa drewto round off a perfect day for Anfield followers.
In between, he could not resist a dig at his Everton counterpart forletting Liverpool off the hook with the strategy that followedKyrgiakos' dismissal for a two-footed lunge at Marouane Fellaini.
It could be argued that Fellaini should have been sent off, ratherthan carried off, after stamping on one of Kyrgiakos' outstretchedlegs. Benitez's interpretation of the ensuing 55 minutes was just ascontentious as he claimed the 10 men had been given an easy ride.
Marching orders: Referee Martin Atkinson shows Sotiros Kyrgiakos a straight red
'I was surprised at the way Everton responded after the sending-off,' he said.
'I was expecting more penetrating passes and also for them to try tokeep the ball on the floor. They had sent Mikel Arteta on for Fellainibut they ended up playing a direct style, knocking long balls. Thatmade things a lot easier for us. It made it easier to control the game.
Mourinho puts Liverpool and Man City on alert after revealing £5.5m buy-outRafa Benitez confident of beating Valencia and Milan to Milan JovanovicLIVERPOOL FC
