Benitez unhappy after Benfica loss

Rafael Benitez was left frustrated following his side's 2-1 Europa League quarter-final defeat by Benfica in Lisbon.

Ryan Babel was sent off after half an hour, for pushing a hand into the face of Luisão during a melee that was sparked by the Brazilian defender's tackle on Fernando Torres. In the second half, two controversial penalties allowed Oscar Cardozo to score twice.

Benítez said he was disappointed with Babel but felt that the Swedish referee should have been stronger towards Luisão, who was given a yellow card.

"I was surprised because a foul from behind is more serious," said the Spaniard. "I would like to analyse the foul before. And after, when one player is shouting in front of the referee after he already has a yellow card. It is a big difference when you kick a player from behind to a player touching another in the mouth.

"It is difficult to understand and impossible to change but we have to move forward and think about Anfield."

Throughout the second half, fireworks were thrown towards the Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina's goal, resulting in two stoppages and a report to the Uefa delegate.

Liverpool's players, in the main, kept their cool. Torres and Javier Mascherano were in danger of being suspended for the second leg next Thursday, had they been booked. Emiliano Insúa's yellow card, however, meant that he will be suspended for the return, giving Benítez a problem at left-back.

Despite the defeat, Benítez felt his side had performed well.

"I haven't seen the replays but you can't change the decisions," he said, of the penalty awards. "Our play for 60 minutes with 10 players was good and we are disappointed because we had chances. It means we are a good team because we had chances.

"Hopefully we will not need to push too hard [in the second leg], just push and play well and score goals."

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