LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez shrugged off the constant speculation over his future after seeing his side snatch a hard-fought draw at Middlesbrough. The Spaniard went into the game after days of conjecture that he could be replaced by Jurgen Klinsmann came to an end when the former Germany coach was appointed by Bayern Munich. But after Fernando Torres had blasted home a 71st-minute equaliser to drag the Reds back into the Premier League’s top four, Benitez insisted the only thing on his mind was the game. Asked if the speculation had made life difficult for him, he said: "No, not really. "I am trying to concentrate on the next game. You could see in the second half, we were changing things because we were just analysing the game. "You must concentrate on games and not anything else because you cannot change those things." For the first 45 minutes, Benitez would not have enjoyed what he saw as his team was outplayed by Boro. The home side took the lead through George Boateng’s first goal of the season with 26 minutes gone, and the Reds boss responded by introducing Ryan Babel at the break. However, the visitors had to survive a major scare when Stewart Downing, amid speculation that Tottenham are ready to push home their interest in him, rattled a shot against the post. That served as Torres’ signal to single-handedly drag his side back into the contest with a superb 25-yard strike which left Mark Schwarzer grasping at thin air. Benitez admitted he was disappointed not to have won the game as a late assault was repelled at full stretch by the Teessiders, for whom Schwarzer made fine late saves from Steven Gerrard and Sami Hyypia. The gap to the top of the table remains at 12 points, but Benitez knows time is starting to run out. He said: "In this position, you cannot think about the leaders, you must think about the next game against Luton, and after that the next one against Aston Villa. "You can play well, you can create chances, but you need to win. You can talk and talk, but at the end of the day, you must win on the pitch. "When you talk about a draw away, sometimes you think that is good, but especially when you are trying to reduce the gap and be closer, you must be disappointed." Opposite number Gareth Southgate was delighted with his side’s performance after losing Jonathan Woodgate to injury and Emanuel Pogatetz to a virus with Schwarzer having a sleepless night through illness. He said: "Had we got the second when we hit the post, I think we would have won the game. "But then you look at the guy who scored their goal and I think he cost about as much as our entire 16, and you think maybe it is not such a bad result. "I am really pleased with the performance we gave because we got the biggest crowd of the season here and it was important we produced a good performance - and it was a performance borne out of a lot of adversity." Southgate sent out his side as speculation that Spurs could be ready to make a £12million swoop for Downing gathered pace, while Boro’s own pursuit of strikers Afonso Alves and Fred continued. However, he insisted there had been no developments on either front. He said: "It’s speculation, simple. There is interest always in good players." | 
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