WE WERE LUCKY SAYS RAFA

Rafael Benitez admitted his side were lucky to escape with a draw after they produced a below-par display in the first-leg of the Champions League qualifier with Standard Liege.

The Reds boss was frustrated that his side could not reproduce their good pre-season form against the Belgian champions but feels the Anfield factor will play a vital role when the two sides meet at Anfield in a fortnight's time. "I think we were lucky not to concede," said Benitez. "You never know what is going to happen when a game gets underway but clearly we didn't play well. "The performance was poor but the result was good. We didn't concede away from home which is always important and to play the second-leg at Anfield could make a massive difference. "The positive thing was the result and we didn't have to say too much about the display in the dressing room because everybody already knew it wasn't good." The Reds struggled to come to terms with Liege's fast start to the contest and Benitez felt his side were their own worst enemy and was grateful to keeper Pepe Reina for securing a 0-0 draw with a first-half spot-kick save. "They were very aggressive and we could not keep the ball," he said. "Our passes were bad and we always lost the first and second ball. "In the first 20 minutes they were on top of us and after that we controlled it a bit more. "In the second-half they started the same way and played more long balls and continued to win the first and second balls and if you don't win them you will continue to be under pressure. "I was a little bit surprised because we were playing well in pre-season with a lot of confidence. "I told the players before, after watching their Super Cup game against Anderlecht, that it could be like this. "We knew they could be very aggressive. They were organised and pressed well and it was difficult for us to keep the ball. "I think the entire team didn't play well; so the strikers, midfielders and defenders didn't play well and Pepe Reina was man of the match." With Javier Mascherano, Lucas Leiva and Ryan Babel all on Olympic duty and the likes of Fabio Aurelio and Martin Skrtel out injured, Benitez felt his side lacked options on the bench and admitted he had been forced to bring skipper Steven Gerrard into the frame to try and inspire a late rally. "We have a lot of players away or injured and the competition for the places needs to improve," he continued. "Gerrard couldn't start and he is a player who can change a game and if you have two or three players of this level on the pitch it is different. "We were talking with the doctor before the match and we knew he couldn't start and we were thinking maybe we could use him and in the end we did need him. "I have been really pleased with the commitment of the players in the pre-season but this game was different, it was difficult and we didn't play well. "Fabio Aurelio and Skrtel have been training and when they are available we will have more options. "Argentina play Holland in the Olympics too, so one player will return earlier. If you have more players competing for places it is better for the team."

GARETH BARRY...*yawn*

Reds target Gareth Barry will become cup-tied this evening if Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill deploys him against FH Hafnarfjordur in the UEFA Cup second round qualifier.

If Liverpool come up with the £18million before the 7pm kick-off then the midfielder obviously won't be involved. If he does play he'll be ineligible to play in the Champions League before the knock-out stages in February.

Because of the on-going saga that has dragged on all summer, all eyes will be on the starting line-up (and the bench) this evening.

LIVERPOOL DRAW 0 -0

Enough said... shocking performance... better now than later.