Rafa refuses to throw in the towel as Reds get stuffed in Turkey

Rafael Benitez insisted Liverpool can still qualify from Champions League Group A despite another disastrous European defeat.

The Anfield manager watched his side slide to a shattering 2-1 loss against Besiktas in front of a boisterous 30,000-plus crowd in Istanbul.

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Having only drawn in Porto and lost at home to Marseille, Liverpool are now bottom of the group and may even have problems qualifying for the UEFA Cup.

But a defiant Benitez said: "I was pleased with the performance, but we just could not take our chances.

"When you have 28 attempts on goal as the away side and nearly 60% of possession, that should usually be enough to win the match."

Liverpool were behind on 13 minutes with a Serdar Ozcan effort deflected home off Sami Hyypia.

And from then on Besiktas withstood everything Liverpool could throw at them and broke away to grab a second with nine minutes left through Brazilian striker Bobo.

Steven Gerrard's late header started a desperate fightback but Besiktas hung on for a famous victory.

Benitez added: "We were punished for one mistake in the first half having had so many chances. Their goalkeeper was outstanding but we should have taken more of our chances.

"Obviously it is very difficult now for us to get through but I believe we still can. There are three games left and we must win all three, but we can do that."

Liverpool face Besiktas next at Anfield and then a home tie with Porto before their visit to group leaders Marseille for the final group match in December.

Benitez said: "We have to wait to see now what we must do, how the numbers add up. The fact that Porto drew with Marseille in the other group game tonight was a help for us, it certainly improves our options."

He added: "If we continue to play like we did in this match, with so much dominance, we have a chance.

"I do not see this as a test for me as a manager, this is football, if you keep doing the right things like we did here, we will achieve what we want."

The Turkish club's coach Ertugrul Saglam, who was forced to sit in the stands due to a UEFA ban, said: "We have three games left and we can win them all to qualify. I am very confident.

"We are very proud to have won such a match against a great team like Liverpool.

"I must admit that I am surprised that they have only one point after three games. We all expected them to be top of the group, not bottom.

"It is a surprise for us to see what has happened in the group. But they also have three games left and they can win them all, they are certainly good enough."