BENITEZ: IT'S NOT OVER YET
Jimmy Rice at Anfield 22 February 2009
Rafa Benitez insisted Liverpool could still win the Premier League after Sunday's 1-1 draw with Man City - but only if they beat Man Utd in their own backyard on March 14.
The Reds are seven points behind the leaders with 12 games remaining after second-half goals from Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt.
"Clearly it's more difficult now," the boss told reporters. "We have to win against Middlesbrough and Sunderland and then we have to start thinking about winning at Old Trafford.
"I have confidence we can beat Middlesbrough and Sunderland and then it might be a different situation.
"It's not easy because United can win games even without playing well, but there are still 12 games. You cannot say everything is finished.
"Clearly if we want to reduce the gap we have to win our next games and then beat United."
Liverpool crafted a series of chances in the first half but were stunned by Bellamy's deflected opener early in the second.
Benitez added: "It was a bad result because we could have done better with the chances we had in the first half.
"We controlled the game but you have to score first. We conceded a deflected goal and that changed the game because they have pace and ability - things were more open so they were dangerous on the counter attack.
"After we scored the goal we had chances and could have won the game."
Asked how a team with just one away win this season could hold Liverpool, Benitez responded: "When teams come to Anfield it's a window of opportunity for some players. City have players with quality and they worked hard."
Next up for Liverpool is a trip to Real Madrid on Wednesday, for which Benitez is hoping to have skipper Steven Gerrard available after a hamstring injury.
He added: "We will see after training tomorrow and then we'll decide with him and the doctor. He's close. The decision is not easy but he's improving."
