Xabi Alonso's own goal and Tuncay's fine clincher
wrecked Liverpool's 15-match unbeaten stretch in the Premier League
- and took Boro out of the bottom three.
Kop boss Benitez said: "Before the game, it was very
difficult - after the game, it is more difficult. "It depends on
United. It will be more difficult, clearly."
Boro, without a league goal for 526 minutes of
football, saw Alonso stick out a leg to put in-form Stewart
Downing's 32nd minute cross past his keeper Pepe Reina.
Then on 63 minutes, as Liverpool struggled to exploit
their large share of possession, Tuncay angled home the first
Premier League goal by a Boro player since January 10 following
Jeremie Aliadiere's precision cross.
Frustrated Benitez, whose side fell seven points behind
leaders Manchester United, said: "In the first 30 minutes, we had
five chances and you have to take your chances.
"After the own goal, we still had chances." Benitez's
new contract remains unsigned and chief executive Rick Parry is
quitting Anfield in the summer. But the Spaniard denies Liverpool
are being unsettled by these off-field issues. And he said: "My
advisers are in contact with the advisers of the owners, so maybe
they will have a conversation and we will see if we can
progress."
In contrast, Boro chief Gareth Southgate claimed his
side deserved their shock triumph. Southgate said: "I am pleased
for the players because they have had to endure a long period of
frustration. "But their work ethic and their togetherness over the
last seven or eight weeks in particular, as we have been building
towards this, has been excellent and we have got to continue that
now.
"Today is a huge lift because there will be teams
sitting at home watching the scores coming in and they won't have
expected us to get anything today.
"It will have dragged a lot of teams back into the
fight at the bottom. "We are still in the cup, we are fighting in
the league and we have shown that as a group this week, the fight
is very much in them, and the quality is there as well, which is
pleasing to see."
Certainly , though, for the opening half-hour,
Liverpool looked the far more likely winners. Boro keeper Brad
Jones had already kept out close-range efforts from Nabil El Zhar
and Dirk Kuyt by the time Gary O'Neil forced Reina into a fine
reaction save in the 11th minute. But, even even the craft of
Alonso and returning skipper Steven Gerrard, on his 300th start for
the club, failed to break down the Teessiders consistently.
Instead, Boro stole a surprise and fortuitous opener,
unlucky Alonso diverting the ball in. That goal clearly settled
Boro, who almost doubled their lead four minutes before the break
when Downing robbed full-back Martin Skrtel and forced Reina to
block well.
Liverpool, though, really ought to have levelled within
three minutes of the restart. Gerrard ghosted into the box and
pulled the ball back invitingly for El Zhar, who hammered his shot
high.
O'Neil was just as wasteful three minutes later
following Jeremie Aliadiere's pass. Mostly Liverpool continued to
push forward, albeit struggling to create clear openings against a
stubborn defence. And Benitez's side finally paid a heavy
price.
But ultimately it was Liverpool who had most to
rue.
Middlesbrough: Jones, Hoyte, Wheater,
Huth, Pogatetz, O'Neil, Bates, Arca (Walker 88), Downing, Sanli
(Adam Johnson 79), Aliadiere (King 68). Subs Not
Used: Turnbull, Taylor, Emnes, Alves.
Booked: Sanli, Bates.
Goals: Alonso 32 og, Sanli 63.
Liverpool: Reina, Carragher (Benayoun
71), Hyypia, Skrtel, Aurelio, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard
(Lucas 76), Babel, El Zhar (Ngog 68). Subs Not
Used: Cavalieri, Dossena, Riera, Darby.
Att: 33,724
Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire).
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