Holders Liverpool dropped two Champions League points because they were denied an obvious penalty against Chelsea, coach Rafael Benitez said.

"It was clear, watching the TV, unbelievable," the Spaniard said after Wednesday's highly charged Group G game between the domestic rivals finished 0-0.

Liverpool players and the noisy partisan crowd appealed for a penalty when defender William Gallas appeared to handle the ball in the area during a second half of intense home pressure.

They also had an appeal turned down by Italian referee Massimo De Santis for a Paulo Ferreira tug on Luis Garcia's shirt as the Spanish midfielder bore down on Chelsea's goal.

In close games between evenly matched sides, Benitez said, "it is the small details that are important. That was a big detail".

The eagerly awaited re-run of last season's semi-final, which Liverpool won thanks to a disputed Luis Garcia goal, made up in entertainment and commitment what it lacked in goals.

"We played at a very high tempo. It was a good game. But we lost two points because for me we played better than them."

POSITIVE THINGS

Benitez was clearly pleased his side had matched Chelsea who have looked invincible this season, winning all their matches until Wednesday.

"We showed we can beat them. We can press them in the air, on the ground. There were positive things," he said.

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho said he had mixed feelings. "I'm not crazy happy and not very sad. A point in the Champions League away from home is a positive result," he said.

The Portuguese was clearly unimpressed with Liverpool's direct style to seek out the lofty Peter Crouch up front.

"We had to cope with it and I think we did it very well," he said.

Mourinho was disappointed that Chelsea, packed with expensive international talent and 14 points ahead of Liverpool in the Premier League, could not make their quality show.

"I don't think anybody deserved to win the game. I think it was a fair result," he said.

Chelsea had lost their previous four Champions League away games despite a run to the semi-finals last season and a 36-game unbeaten run in the Premier League.

At times Liverpool looked like making it five.

"It was very competitive," Mourinho said. "It was tough, it was a game for men," he said.

Both English sides have four points from two games and lead Real Betis, with three, and Anderlecht, who have yet to win a point.

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