RAFA: WE DESERVED TO WIN

	Lee Brown 07 April 2007 Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez believes that his side deserved their 2-1 win over Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday, but he was also quick to point out that they were made to work hard for the three points.
“We knew it was going to be a difficult game,” declared Rafa, whose side are now five points ahead of Arsenal in fourth after they lost at home to West Ham. “They are a tough side to play against and they pressed us and worked hard. I think we have done a good job and in the end I think we deserved to win. “We had chances in the first half to kill the game, but at half time we knew we still had to be careful because we remember how they came back against Manchester United earlier in the season. “We made a mistake for their goal and then we had to try to change things by bringing on different players to give them more problems. “We still have work to do to finish in the top four. We have to be careful, but hopefully we will play in the Semi Final of the Champions League and if we can win enough games before then, it will enable us to focus on that competition.” Benitez explained that Xabi Alonso missed today's game because he had taken a kick on his shin.

“We had chances in the first half to kill the game, but at half time we knew we still had to be careful because we remember how they came back against Manchester United earlier in the season.

“We made a mistake for their goal and then we had to try to change things by bringing on different players to give them more problems.

“We still have work to do to finish in the top four. We have to be careful, but hopefully we will play in the Semi Final of the Champions League and if we can win enough games before then, it will enable us to focus on that competition.”

Benitez explained that Xabi Alonso missed today's game because he had taken a kick on his shin.