We can still qualify, insist Liverpool, Deportivo bosses

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - Liverpool and Deportivo La Coruna can still qualify for the second stage of the Champions League, the clubs' bosses insisted after seeing their sides battle out an entertaining 0-0 draw here.
After the latest round of matches in Group A, Liverpool are in the third spot, two points behind leaders Monaco. Deportivo lie last in the four-team group but are just two points below the Reds and second place Olympiakos with three games remaining.
The top two teams qualify for the next stage.
"If we play like today we can win (our remaining games) at home and away for sure," Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said after seeing his side thwarted by some exceptional saves by Deportivo's veteran stopper Jose Molina.
"The goalkeeper played very well," said Benitez, who was facing Spanish opposition for the first time since joining Liverpool from Valencia during the summer.
"I'm not happy with the result, but I am happy with the way we played," he said, admitting that his side should have won.
"It was the best Liverpool performance I have seen since I came here. We kept the ball well, showed great pressure, had many opportunities."
But it was Deportivo who came closest to scoring when Cesar saw his close range header cleared off the line against the run of play early in the first half.
"It was a fair result," said Deportivo coach Javier Irureta, who saw things differently.
"It was an even game throughout. Neither side was capable of scoring the goals the game needed."
He conceded that Monaco would likely win the group but said his side was capable of snatching second place from under the noses of Liverpool and Greece's Olympiakos, who lost 2-1 away to the French league outfit on Tuesday.
"Monaco have got the advantage," Irureta said.
"A lot depends on ourselves. We have got two games still to play at home. If we can get results in our home games we can sneak through."
Deportivo next play host to Liverpool in a fortnight.
Liverpool were left cursing themselves that they did not put the game beyond Deportivo by half-time.
"I am very disappointed," Benitez lamented after the match after being handed no presents by familiar opposition.
A total ten Spaniards, including Liverpool's Josemi, Luis Garcia and Xabi Alonso, started the match.
Despite Liverpool's early dominance it was Deportivo who should have opened the scoring, but Cesar's powerful header from an Alberto Luque corner was cleared off the line by Norwegian international John Arne Riise in the 15th minute.
Liverpool should have scored themselves four minutes later, but Djibril Cisse's close-range shot was deflected to safety. The Frenchman had another great chance half-way through the first half, but his shot from a Milan Baros cross was brilliantly tipped away by Molina.
Liverpool continued to attack and only a last-ditch tackle from Manuel Pablo prevented Baros from finding the net. The Czech Republic striker, top scorer in Euro 2004, ran on to a through ball from Dietmar Hamann, rounded Molina who had raced out of his box, but Pablo rushed back to save the day.
Despite failing to score, Benitez refused to criticise his strike-force amid suggestions Baros and Cisse were not suited as a pair.
"He was unlucky," the manager said of Cisse, signed by Liverpool's previous boss Gerard Houllier.
They "can play well together", he insisted, adding that the Frenchman had run and fought for the ball all night.
As for Deportivo, Walter Pandiani, playing as a lone striker proved ineffective, failing to create one clear goal-scoring chance for the visitors, while in midfield Victor and Aldo Duscher had difficulty tracking Alonso and Garcia.