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LIVERPOOL FC: RAFA PREVIEWS TODAY'S BIG GAME

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez reflects on our Boxing Dy defeat, previews today's clash at Spurs and also discusses the opening of the transfer window next week.

/noticias.info/ Was the Blackburn defeat nothing more than a blip for your team?

It was similar to our early season games away from home when we were playing well and creating a lot of chances but weren’t able to score. We had the same problem again at Blackburn. When we had the problem before I told the players we have to work harder and now it’s the same situation for us. I think we’ll get a similar reaction from the players and they’ll start scoring goals and winning games again.

So you’re not worried about what happened at Blackburn?

No, not at all. The situation is clear. I have said it so many times in press conferences, I would be worried if we weren’t creating chances and weren’t having opportunities to score goals. We just need to keep working to get into the right positions and then be more precise in front of goal.

How frustrated were you with the amount of chances which went begging on Boxing Day?

It’s not just the strikers, it’s the team. When we keep a clean sheet it’s because of the team and when we cannot score it’s because of the team.

The transfer window will be opening soon – is there a particular area of your team which you’d like to strengthen?

You know my idea and that I prefer to be focused on games. I’m happy with my squad but when you are at a top side you must always be looking to improve and looking for top players. At the moment I am happy with the squad, we are playing well and all we need to do differently is take the chances which we are making.

Is Javier Mascherano from West Ham a player who interests you?

I have seen the cuttings in the press and we are always linked with a lot of names. Now is the team to be calm, to work the players and to think about Tottenham.

Is there a possibility of Gabriel Paletta going on loan in January?

It depends on different things. He is not playing a lot and in January he could have an opportunity. I have not spoken to him about this yet, we need to wait. I am really pleased with him, he is training well and improving. It’s not easy for a foreign boy of 20 years of age who isn’t playing all the time, but his training sessions are always good and he is an example for the rest of the players.

You’ve said you are ignoring the league table at the moment and just concentrating on the games coming up – is that easy to do?

Yes, because you can’t change the other things. All I can do is think about our games, our team selections and our players. We are all focusing on Tottenham now and then after that we’ll think about Bolton. It’s important to win the first game and then think about the other one. People talk about how important Christmas is and about winning all the games. Forget it. It’s important to take one game at a time and not think about the games which will come after.

How difficult will it be to win at Tottenham this weekend?

They are playing well and scoring goals but we are a good, strong team as well. We have had a lot of clean sheets and we know we can do it down there. We have confidence as well. We know we need to score more goals but we have been creating 16-20 chances away from home in games this season and usually you must win after that kind of performance.

Jermaine Defoe is back scoring goals again for Tottenham – what do you make of him as a striker?

I prefer not to talk about him because people might say we want to buy the player! He’s a good player, along with Berbatov, Mido and Robbie Keane. They have spent big money on good players and that is why they have a good team. It will be a hard game for us but we can win. notas_de_prensa_archivo