'TO THE SPECIAL ONE THANX FOR YOUR MAGICAL TOUCH"

Rafael Benitez was full of praise for two goal hero Fernando Morientes in the 2-0 win over Middlesbrough and said it was the perfect situation to win before the team fly off to Japan.

The Liverpool manager said he was pleased to see his team go second in the Premiership and felt the Reds thoroughly deserved the three points.

Benitez said: "Fernando is a good finisher and he did very well. It's good for a striker's confidence to score. It's a perfect situation for us winning and being near the top of the table before we go to Japan.

"It was a difficult game but we deserved to win it which was the most important thing. We had chances in the first half but couldn't score but I told the players at half-time to keep attacking and playing well and we would find the gaps to score.

"I made a change to bring Luis Garcia on. We weren't winning second balls off Crouch so I brought Luis on just behind Fernando and we played more football and got the goals.

"We are playing very well as a team and are working hard. We have kept 10 clean sheets now and Pepe Reina made two very good saves for us today. We have a good goalkeeper and are defending well and attacking well as a team.

"To see your team playing well, scoring goals and keeping clean sheets is good for a manager, but we are not looking any further than going to Japan and looking to win another trophy."

1 Chelsea

2 Liverpool

3 Manchester United

it Was a very good game.

a great game

BOSS Rafa Benitez hailed two-goal Fernando Morientes - on the day Liverpool set a club record of 10 clean sheets in a row.

And Kop skipper Steven Gerrard is openly talking of a title challenge as the in-form Reds went second with their seventh straight Premiership win.

Spain striker Morientes looked offside when he completed his late double to end Boro's tough resistance.

But Benitez said: "He was playing well in the last games but sometimes the most important thing for strikers is to score goals. This is the best performance."

The Kop chief praised his side's well-oiled defence.

It was, though, Liverpool's all-round progress that most excited Gerrard.

The England midfielder said: "We want to win the league and we're not conceding goals which is a good base to start from.

"We're improving all the time, there's still improvement to show.

"We're still a bit away but if we keep progressing then we could be there this season or next season.

"I'm proud but the whole team is doing its job."

He added: "It wasn't a classic to watch but three points was the most important thing.

I feel teams coming to Anfield will fear us once again like the old days. Owen must be kicking himself, anyway just to let you guys know before hand he will be back with us next season, "wait and see" we all want him back and so does he.

P.S. he has a one year get out clause with Newcastle ha ha theres a reason to that.

yes.....happy to be 2nd......wonder if everton can do us a favour tonight against united.......but never rely on the blue noses for anything