By Ian Doyle Chief Football Correspondent, Daily Post
RAFAEL BENITEZ expressed his relief after Liverpool ended their away drought with victory in Bordeaux last night.
Peter Crouch's 58th-minute goal gave the Anfield side a rare victory in France and moved them a step closer to qualification to the Champions League knockout stages.
It secured Liverpool's first away win of the season and ended a 454-minute wait for a goal on their travels, with Benitez's side also securing only their second clean sheet away from Anfield since April.
And Benitez believes the victory will provide a confidence boost ahead of Sunday's crucial Premiership visit to Manchester United.
"It was really important because we won away and because it was another clean sheet," said the Liverpool manager. "For the players, in terms of confidence in the future it will be really important.
"I'm certainly happy with the final score, and the performance of the team was good. We worked really hard to control the game. We know they like to play between lines and behind strikers. It was difficult to control but I think the players worked really hard."
Liverpool's win, which was only their second in eight visits to face French opposition, keeps them top of Group C with seven points, ahead of PSV Eindhoven on goal difference, the Dutch team having last night won 2-1 at Galatasaray.
Victory in the return game against Bordeaux at Anfield in a fortnight would almost certainly put Liverpool again through to the last 16.
And Benitez said: "It was really important for us to win here. We knew we'd be top of group and now we need to win at home, but it won't be easy.
"It's not easy to come to Bordeaux and play. We will know more about the real situation of the group after the next round of games."
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