Rafa's reaction to Spurs win

Rafael Benitez paid tribute to Dirk Kuyt after the Dutchman's double downed Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Wednesday evening.

The 29-year-old put the Reds on their way to the 2-0 victory with a sixth minute opener against the top four hopefuls.

And Kuyt displayed great composure to secure the three points when he netted a penalty in second half injury-time at the second time of asking after referee Howard Webb had ordered the striker to retake his initial kick.

"He was working very hard and maybe he could have scored four today," Benitez told reporters at his post-match press conference. "His commitment is always 100 per cent, so we are pleased for him.

"He has experience and has scored a lot of goals in Holland and here. Normally Gerrard will take our penalties, but he can do it well too."

The victory over Tottenham moves Liverpool to within a point of Harry Redknapp's fourth placed side in the Barclays Premier League.

Benitez believes the timing of Kuyt's opening goal proved a key factor in the result.

"It was important for us to score," he said. "Tottenham were playing well and I think we were not in control of the game in the first half - but we still had the better chances.

"After the first goal, they had to go forward and it made space for us. It was good for us because they had to take some risks.

"It was an important win for everyone here because we knew we had to reduce the gap and stay in the race, so I am really pleased with the players.

"They showed the same attitude, effort and team spirit as against Stoke and also real character."

He added: "It is always important to win games for confidence, but especially when you have to reduce the gap against a good team.

"The game against Stoke was very difficult, but we could have won, and this one was the same but we won.

"The players know the way to do things is to keep working as hard as tonight, and sometimes you need a bit of luck too."

Benitez also reserved words of praise for trio Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Martin Skrtel and Philipp Degen.

The Spaniard admits he was delighted with the character shown by his squad in the absence of the likes of Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun and Glen Johnson.

"It is difficult to stop Crouch and Defoe, so I think the combination of Kyrgiakos and Skrtel did well," added the boss.

"I said before, the squad is not as bad as people have said. Today we were without six players, but the rest of the squad showed character.

"We have to be pleased because everyone was working hard and the players who have not played too many games did well."

Asked by reporters whether he felt Liverpool would be stronger in the second half of the season, Benitez replied: "I think so. It is a question of having all of our players available and if we don't have them, at least we have seen the other players work like they did tonight.

"Over the last five years, we have normally been better in the second half of the season.

"Everybody knows Liverpool are a good team. It is question of winning games and showing our quality."