Benitez issues title pledge (From The Northern Echo)

Benitez issues title pledge

9:46am Monday 27th October 2008 in

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Chelsea 0 Liverpool 1

LIVERPOOL coach Rafael Benitez believes their victory over Chelsea has sent a ‘‘massive message’’ to their Premier League title rivals.

Liverpool ended Chelsea’s 86-match unbeaten home league record thanks to a deflected first-half goal from Xabi Alonso. It put Liverpool three points clear at the top of the table in their best-ever start in the Premier League.

‘‘To win here and stay top of the table unbeaten is a massive message for the other teams,’’ declared Benitez.

It was a massive game and to come here with the mentality we had and with the players showing character, it was a big boost for the rest of the season.

‘‘We have belief, we have quality and we have shown by coming from behind in other games this season, that we have character. At least this is enough to be top of the table for now.

‘‘We can go to any stadium and win games. Today, against a very good team, a very offensive team, we showed we were thinking about winning.

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, beaten for the first time since taking charge, admitted his players had resorted to long-ball tactics in a bid to save their unbeaten home league record.

‘‘We did not expect the result,’’ said Scolari. ‘‘But we need to understand that Liverpool have a very good team.

They didn’t play better than us but they took their chance.

In the first half we dominated the game and in the second we had more possession of the ball and passed it well until we got near their penalty area.

‘‘After this we crossed many balls but they had a good defensive line and dealt with every one. We didn’t play as we have done in other games because we didn’t have the space.”