Benitez: Two points dropped
Rafael Benitez cut a frustrated figure at the final whistle in Madrid
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Liverpool dominated the first half of their Champions League encounter with Atletico Madrid but had to settle for a 1-1 draw. |  |
Thursday, 23, Oct 2008 10:25
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has called the 1-1 draw away to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League as "two points dropped".
The Reds took a deserved lead at the Vicente Calderon Stadium through Robbie Keane.
But some lacklustre defending in the 83rd minute allowed an unchecked Simao to arrive alone at the far post to slot home an equaliser.
And afterwards, Benitez was left to rue several missed chances that he believed cost his team their perfect record in group D.
"You have to finish when you have the chances," he said.
"We were trying to find the perfect pass. We were in their final third and all we were doing was passing it."
He continued: "We have one more point now and it's not a bad position to be in, but if you concede after 83 minutes then you have to be disappointed. In my opinion we have lost two points."
Realistically, one more win for Liverpool from their remaining three group matches should see them comfortably into the knockout stages of the competition.
Their next match is the return fixture against Atletico at Anfield, when striker Fernando Torres hopes to be fit again after injury to play against his old team.