The Liverpool manager cited Yossi Benayoun's stoppage-time equaliser in the 4-4 draw as proof of his team's indefatigable spirit, though he and Arsène Wenger conceded the title could be within Sir Alex Ferguson's grasp tonight should the champions overcome Portsmouth at Old Trafford.
Andrey Arshavin appeared to have ended Liverpool's hopes of a first league title since 1990 when he struck his fourth goal of the game in the 90th minute, only for Benayoun to level and prompt Wenger to kick the ball at Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa in frustration. The Arsenal manager promised Liverpool his side would attack United with the same intent when they go to Old Trafford in the league on 16 May, though that was of little consolation to Benítez on a night when four defensive errors undermined their rise to the top of the table.
"They [United] had the initiative before this game. They were already in the driving seat," the Liverpool manager said. "If they win tomorrow it will be more difficult for us but they have to win and they also have to play Arsenal. Before we knew we had to win almost every game so it is very disappointing to concede four goals we don't usually concede. But the positive is to score four goals against Arsenal, and the other positive is that the team fought to the end. We will do this until the end of the season."
Benítez also drew parallels with his promotion season at Tenerife in 2001 as reason for Liverpool not to concede the title yet. "We need to keep going until the end because in football anything can happen. With Tenerife we drew at home to Recreativo in one of our last games and people said it was over, but Betis and Sevilla, our rivals, both lost the next day so we had one more point. Anything can happen."
The Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett were present at Anfield having earlier put on an unusual show of solidarity by holding joint talks with the Royal Bank of Scotland. Liverpool's co-chairmen are due to repay a £350m refinancing deal on the club in July with and have been looking to sell sporting assets in the United States ahead of the deadline. Their joint appearance before the bank may, it is believed, have been to discuss an extension.
Benítez's priority, however, were the defensive lapses that may yet haunt Liverpool in the final reckoning, with Javier Mascherano, Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Aurelio all culpable of individual errors that contributed to goals. "It is difficult to explain, a different player in different moments," said the Liverpool manager. "The last one was the most disappointing for me though from a corner. You have to control outside your box at a corner and we have talked about this so many times."
Wenger shared the Spaniard's mixed emotions and his view on the title race following this result. "This just shows that on a good pitch you can play good football in the Premier League," said the Arsenal manager, with an unsubtle dig at the state of the Wembley pitch. "We are half happy because we scored four but half unhappy at conceding four and drawing after leading 4-3 with two minutes to go. Arshavin showed what a great player he is, with that short back-lift of his he is very dangerous."As for the title, the Arsenal manager added: "How United bounce back against Portsmouth could be decisive. I think it all depends on their games in hand but don't worry Liverpool, we will go to Manchester United there and try to win in the championship as well as the Champions League."