AUSTRALIAN keeper Brad Jones suffered double agony at Anfield with a dislocated finger in the warm up forcing him to miss Middlesbrough's 2-1 defeat by Liverpool.
Boro took the lead in the 70th minute with a Mido strike before Jamie Carragher's drive was deflected home by Emanuel Pogatetz with five minutes of normal time left.
Liverpool looked relieved to have saved a point, but Gerrard crashed home the winner four minutes into added time.
Rafa Benitez said: "I was very pleased with the first 15 minutes or so, we created a lot of chances and could have scored a couple.
"But after that we did not play well, and we allowed them to control our attacks. They did not create too much themselves, but it was not a good performance from our team.
"Then in the second-half they scored a good goal and we had to throw people forward to get ourselves back in the game.
"I am sure that Jamie Carragher will be claiming that goal, despite the deflection, but afterwards he was only really concerned that we had got ourselves level.
"But it was Gerrard who showed the winning mentality, he has done that so many times from a similar position. Many other players would have put it high over the bar, but you know Gerrard will hit the target.
"Last season we drew far too many games at Anfield, but this time we have sent out a message that in such situations we can win the game. We have winners here."
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate admitted his side were bitterly disappointed to have lost the game.
He said: "That was hard to take. The players are heartbroken in the dressing room.
"We deserved more, we certainly deserved a point. We produced a disciplined performance and the two matches we have played so far have given me plenty of confidence.
"We beat Spurs last weekend and now we have very nearly beaten a side who can win the title.
"Their equaliser was a freak, and we should have been able to see out the game even at 1-1.
"But I have told them that they can leave Anfield with their heads high."
Southgate revealed that goalkeeper Brad Jones dislocated a finger in the warm-up.
He said: "It was just one of those things, but Ross Turnbull came in and did very well, he can be pleased with his performance."
Liverpool looked relieved to have saved a point, but Gerrard crashed home the winner four minutes into added time.
Rafa Benitez said: "I was very pleased with the first 15 minutes or so, we created a lot of chances and could have scored a couple.
"But after that we did not play well, and we allowed them to control our attacks. They did not create too much themselves, but it was not a good performance from our team.
"Then in the second-half they scored a good goal and we had to throw people forward to get ourselves back in the game.
"I am sure that Jamie Carragher will be claiming that goal, despite the deflection, but afterwards he was only really concerned that we had got ourselves level.
"But it was Gerrard who showed the winning mentality, he has done that so many times from a similar position. Many other players would have put it high over the bar, but you know Gerrard will hit the target.
"Last season we drew far too many games at Anfield, but this time we have sent out a message that in such situations we can win the game. We have winners here."
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate admitted his side were bitterly disappointed to have lost the game.
He said: "That was hard to take. The players are heartbroken in the dressing room.
"We deserved more, we certainly deserved a point. We produced a disciplined performance and the two matches we have played so far have given me plenty of confidence.
"We beat Spurs last weekend and now we have very nearly beaten a side who can win the title.
"Their equaliser was a freak, and we should have been able to see out the game even at 1-1.
"But I have told them that they can leave Anfield with their heads high."
Southgate revealed that goalkeeper Brad Jones dislocated a finger in the warm-up.
He said: "It was just one of those things, but Ross Turnbull came in and did very well, he can be pleased with his performance."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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