Rafa eager to focus on positives

RAFA BENITEZ insists the confidence in Liverpool’s squad has drastically improved even though they failed to build on their derby day victory at Ewood Park.

The Reds, who looked to have turned the corner when they ground out a 2-0 win against Everton six days earlier, were held to a goal-less draw by a belligerent Blackburn side on Saturday and missed a chance to move back into the top four.

Benitez, though, was not too disheartened by what he saw and was quick to look for positives in the aftermath, despite Liverpool slipping down to seventh in the Premier League table.

Having endured a ruinous time in October and November, Benitez believes slowly but surely his team are starting to turn the corner and feels the evidence comes from the fact Liverpool are unbeaten in six and haven't conceded a goal for 284 minutes.

That said, Benitez - who will give Alberto Aquilani his first start against Fiorentina on Wednesday night - accepts there is still plenty of room for improvement but thinks that will come when the belief in the squad improves further.

"I thought we did well and the clean sheet is the positive thing," Benitez pointed out.

"We were creating more chances, had better possession, and the other positive thing is that we played better than we did against Everton.

"(Steven) Gerrard was involved in the game and was good. But we're disappointed as we were pushing very hard and we had chances to win. But also at the end (Blackburn) could have scored on the counter-attack.

"It was disappointing because we had our chances, we were pushing and it was a corner for us. At the end we were defending a counter-attack.

"We could have won the game as we had the chances but we could have lost too.

"But it's another clean sheet and you saw that we are reacting and trying to do things well.

"Sometimes it's just a little bit of luck and then you can score. I felt that the mentality was very good from the beginning.

"To defend against a team like this is not easy, so to keep a clean sheet and have chances and push them in the second half was really good.

"Confidence is much better now because we have gone six games in a row without losing."

Liverpool might have snatched the win but David Ngog saw a shot strike the bar midway through the second half and Dirk Kuyt's attempts to hammer home the rebound was blocked by Christopher Samba.

The Congolese defender - the game's outstanding performer - dived to head Kuyt's blockbuster over the bar and while he had a quieter afternoon than has been the case in the past against the Reds, he thinks Benitez can coax them back into the top four.

"You have to be a bit lucky to keep out a shot like that as you have to be in the right place," he said. "The ball came off the bar and I was just lucky to be in the right place.

"It's a good point but we're disappointed not to get all three as we should have won.

"It is easier defending against Liverpool this season than previous ones. They're not at their best right now. I think it was a good time to play them because they do not look as strong as in the past.

"They are still a big team and can still win with a quick pass or good shot. But every team has a point when they will struggle.

"They are struggling but (Fernando) Torres will come back, Gerrard will return to his best form, so they don't have to worry."

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