Lewington Gives Credit To Liverpool

Last updated : 25 January 2005 By Sam
The Hornets boss felt that Liverpool going into the game on the back of three defeats helped spur Rafael Benitez's side to the final.

"Naturally we're disappointed," he said after the 1-0 defeat at Vicarage Road on Tuesday night.

"The lads felt we really had a chance to do something in this game but I think the events of the last week conspired against us.

"Liverpool suffered three defeats and a lot of bad publicity. Had they not been knocked out of the FA Cup and lost to Southampton, I think they would have come here and played 4-2-4.

"Had they done that I think we would have gone closer to causing an upset. As it is, they showed us every respect by playing five across the middle, getting everyone behind the ball and they really worked hard at the nitty gritty stuff. Their work off the ball was fantastic.

"They also have Steven Gerrard who scored twice against us and who is quite a handful in his own league let alone playing against us."