Rafa Benitez believes Liverpool's dramatic 2-1 win over Middlesbrough proves they have discovered a winning mentality at Anfield that can help launch an onslaught on the Premier League title.

The Liverpool manager watched his team play poorly against Middlesbrough on Saturday and fall behind to a spectacular long-range shot from Egyptian forward Mido.

But Jamie Carragher scored a deflected equaliser four minutes from time and, in the third of three additional minutes, a superb finish from Steven Gerrard secured all three points for Benitez's side.

After poor home form prevented Liverpool from mounting a serious title bid last season, Benitez is looking for a vast improvement in the new campaign and he believes that the spirit shown by his players in continuing a winning start was a positive sign.

"After the equaliser, we showed our quality," Benitez said. "And we showed the winning mentality that we are going to have to show this season.

"Sometimes, we have lost or drawn this kind of game so it is important to get the win. We now have six points and confidence is high.

"Maybe our fans were thinking about last season but this will be a very positive message for this season to see the team winning this kind of game. It gives them confidence in our players, that they can win this kind of game."

Gerrard's 93rd minute strike was one of the few moments of quality from Liverpool on the afternoon and, despite struggling with a groin injury, the team captain showed his value to the club and their hopes of winning silverware.

The Liverpool manager also picked out Morrocan forward Nabil El Zhar, a second half substitute and growing favourite of Benitez's, for praise.

"Steven showed his quality. We know he is not 100 per cent fit but he has the quality we need to change a game. He was the difference," Benitez said.

"But I was pleased with the team and, for me, the key was Nabil. When he came on, he was keeping the ball and running forward without giving the ball away. He was the little bit of difference in the last 15 minutes.

"When we conceded the goal, I thought it would be really, really difficult but we changed, played with three defenders, and had more people in attack. That was key to the second goal."

Heartbroken Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate, beaten 3-2 in a tough loss at Anfield last season, sympathised with his beaten players but insisted the performance speaks volumes about the strides taken by his side.

"It's hard to take and I'm heartbroken for the lads," Southgate said. "I feel for them but they musn't lose confidence from it. There were some big performances out there, they stood up to the fight and didn't look in awe of coming here and playing.

"I have to look at the bigger picture and if I look at where we are compared to 12 months ago, the improvement has been light years."

Mido scored his second goal in as many games for Boro and Southgate confirmed that he will not be leaving the club in the final week of the transfer window despite reported interest from Wigan.

"No-one from Wigan has spoken to me," added Southgate. "Mido is the sort of lad who wants to play regularly and he has shown how important he can be for us the last two weeks.

"We need people who can come on and effect the game like he did. There is competition for places here now and he has given himself chance to win a starting place."

AFP