ANDY HUNTERsays Liverpool can take some consolation from a solid defensive display

LIVERPOOL’S PRIORITY was to restore confidence in their back four. It illustrated the extent of Liverpool’s predicament here in Hungary that Jamie Carragher came in search not only of another salvage operation in the Champions League but help for the psyche.

“It’s not just about the Champions League and getting a win here,” he said. “It’s about confidence and getting the team playing well again because we’ve got to look forward to a big game against Everton at the weekend as well.”

Even in victory, however, the blows keep coming for Liverpool, who paid the ultimate penalty for letting their destiny slip in Group E.

It is time to regroup and redress for Rafael Benitez, with the basic principle of making Liverpool hard to beat once again – a must ahead of Sunday’s visit to Goodison Park.

Today marks the 56th anniversary of Hungary’s historic 6-3 defeat of England at Wembley, but there were no worthy successors on display to the tradition of Nandor Hidegkuti, Sandor Kocsis and Ferenc Puskas.

The Hungarian champions and Group E whipping boys were never likely to provide a formidable test of Liverpool’s resilience, although with Benitez in the market for small mercies this defensive display encouraged.

Pre-Budapest, Liverpool had kept just one clean sheet in 10 matches away from Anfield this season and that was against Leeds United of League One in the League Cup. Their nine other journeys had led to 17 goals conceded, a product mainly of having to employ 11 different defenders due to injury and suspension rather than the oft-mentioned zonal marking.

Liverpool’s lack of a defender that can dominate in the air as Sami Hyypia once did has contributed more to their weaknesses at set pieces this season than a manager’s tactical preference.

Against Debrecen, however, Benitez could field arguably his first-choice rearguard with Glen Johnson available following a calf strain and Daniel Agger playing in a headband to protect the five stitches he required after last weekend’s game at Anfield. Consistency of selection has been denied Benitez throughout this trying campaign, and will be as vital to sustained recovery as his players’ state of mind.

Though Liverpool dropped deeper after David Ngog’s fourth minute goal on the night, they were only seriously troubled by the news from Florence and a glorious last-minute miss by Adamo Coulibaly.

Gergely Rudolf headed the Hungarians’ one decent opening of the first-half wide, tested Jose Reina from an acute angle in the second half and a shot from Peter Szakaly was easily smothered.

Otherwise, Reina was redundant. The only defensive concern from this display for Benitez was Decrecen’s success against Emiliano Insua at left-back. In normal circumstances, or if Fabio Aurelio were able to remain fit and Andrea Dossena merely able, the young Argentine would have been rested by now. A promising start to the season has faded amid the pressure of recent weeks.

The importance of confidence to which Carragher referred was demonstrated perfectly here by Javier Mascherano’s display.

Liverpool’s holding midfielder has rediscovered the industry and commitment that attracted Barcelona’s interest since Argentina’s qualification for the World Cup was finally assured.

He now resembles a leader for his club once again, and those qualities will be in much demand now as Benitez looks to Mascherano, Steven Gerrard, Carragher and Reina to lift the club’s season out of its trough.

The impact of elimination from the Champions League will be felt greatest in Liverpool’s reputation and belief. The club can withstand missing out on knock-out stage money and greater TV revenue from this season’s budget, but can ill-afford to be absent from the competition next season.

When last dumped into European football’s secondary competition from the group phase, in Basle seven years ago, Liverpool went 10 Premier League games without a win and failed to qualify for the Champions League with a final day defeat at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea’s triumph that day led to Roman Abramovich arriving to change the Premier League landscape.

Liverpool cannot afford a repeat.