Tottenham's task was made all the more difficult two minutes before the interval when forward Son Heung-min was sent off
In recent seasons Benitez has made little attempt to disguise his feelings that the Premier League was strictly a second priority after the Champions League.
Arsenal fought back from 2-0 down to beat Bolton Wanderers 4-2 and go top of the Premier League while Liverpool re-ignited their season with a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.
Leicester City's traumatic week ended with a 1-0 win at Cardiff City although the result was never the chief concern on a day when the tributes flowed for the Midlands club's late owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha who died in a helicopter crash.
Bournemouth's remarkable rise from the brink of obscurity was virtually completed when they effectively sealed promotion to the Premier League for the first time in their 116-year history on Monday.
The victory puts the pressure back on title rivals Liverpool who are at Cardiff City on Sunday and trail by a point with each side having played 34 games.
IMAGES from the English Premier League match played between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium in London on Sunday.
Tottenham Hotspur secured a place in the Europa League next season as they closed out their Premier League campaign with a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
'There is a difference where we want to be in the Champions League, but when you're a club like Manchester United, there's a need to be in the Champions League'
The opening match and final of the second edition of IPL, shifted overseas to South Africa, are to be held at the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town and the Wanderers in Johannesburg respectively on April 18 and May 24.
Mohamed Salah is ready to feature in Liverpool's Premier League title decider against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday after the Egyptian forward recovered from concussion.
IMAGES from the EPL matches played on Sunday.
Manchester City beat bottom club Sheffield United 1-0 to move three points clear of Manchester United who were held to a goalless draw at Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday.
Middlesbrough were rewarded for beating Manchester City with a trip to FA Cup holders Arsenal while Chelsea's conquerors Bradford City host Sunderland or Fulham after the fifth round draw on Monday.
Fans return to English grounds, but told not to celebrate goals too much.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Rediff.com brings you a wrap of big stories in pictures with the Best Sports Photos of the Week.
The home team's record signing Jefferson Lerma, who cost 25 million pounds ($32 million) in August, scored a spectacular own goal to give Arsenal the lead but Norwegian international Josh King, back in the Bournemouth side after injury, equalised just before halftime.
Bahader had previously told media he was 75, which he attributed to "rounding up".
Brazilian midfielder Gilberto converted a penalty in each half as Arsenal trounced Tottenham Hotspur 3-0.
Leaders Manchester United stayed three points clear in the English Premier League by beating Everton 3-0.
As the legend turns 40, we take a look at his journey in cricket and life.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
News of all that transpired on and off the football field.
Champions Liverpool were ripped apart 7-2 at Aston Villa and Manchester United were humiliated 6-1 at home by Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday in one of the most astonishing days of Premier League results.
Nicolas Anelka scored twice against his old club to help Bolton Wanderers beat Arsenal 3-1 to climb to third in the Premier League on Saturday.
There will be no seismic shifts in the balance of the world's richest football competition if the first weekend of the new Premier League season is anything to go by.
A round-up of Saturday's action in the Premier League.
The victory kept Arsenal in the race for the fourth Champions League place from the EPL.
Arsenal's defence of the trophy ended with something of a whimper as Mikel Arteta's side struggled with repeatedly sloppy defending.
IMAGES from EPL matches played on Wednesday
'Soul might not win trophies. But, unlike trophies, soul actually matters,' says Shougat Dasgupta.
Arsenal had to come from behind to snatch a 2-1 win over Wigan Athletic and reclaim fourth place in the Premier League from Bolton Wanderers on Sunday.
Arsenal had to come from behind to snatch a 1-1 draw against bogey team Bolton Wanderers as champions Chelsea cruised into the FA Cup fifth round with a 3-0 win over third division Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Images from Sunday's English Premier League matches.
Arsenal and Bolton Wanderers will face each other in the FA Cup for the third successive season after being paired in the fourth round draw on Monday.
Chelsea almost stole the points at the death but Argentine Hernan Crespo wasted two good chances while defender Ricardo Carvalho headed over.
