Rafa Benitez: Players told not to worry about the league table

Jan 21 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

RAFAEL BENITEZ has urged his Liverpool team to show they won’t give up fourth place without a fight – as Fernando Torres backed his fellow Spaniard to stay as manager beyond the summer.

The Anfield outfit were surpassed by both neighbours Everton and Manchester City yesterday to drop to sixth in the Premier League standings.

Liverpool, though, have two games in hand and a home victory this evening against Aston Villa – another of their rivals for fourth place – would elevate Benitez’s side back into the Champions League qualification places.

But defeat would send Liverpool tumbling further down the table and do little to lift the air of uncertainty that hangs over the club at present, given the battle for control of the club between their American owners and would-be buyers Dubai International Capital.

Liverpool have won only two of their last six league games, a run which has seen them fall a massive 15 points behind leaders Manchester United and Arsenal and end any hopes of the title.

The 5-0 win over Luton Town in their FA Cup third round replay last Tuesday ended a run of four successive draws, and Benitez wants his players to retain the winning habit tonight.

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“We must keep winning, win our game in hand, and show our rivals that we aim to be in the top four and as high as possible in the table,” said the Anfield manager.

“We will fight to be as close as possible to the top of the table. I am not thinking about fourth position as a target. We will try to finish higher. How high I don't know, but we will aim higher. Villa are closer to us now, as are Everton and Manchester City, so we know we cannot make any mistakes.

“Martin O’Neill is a manager with great experience and when you watch how excited he gets on the touchline, it is clear how important it is to him and how much support he gives to his players.

“It is difficult to play against any good team but when they have a good manager as well it makes it even tougher.”

Benitez’s position has come under intense scrutiny in recent times, particularly after Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks admitted Jurgen Klinsmann had been approached with a view to replacing the Spaniard. But striker Torres believes Benitez will not leave, and said: “It’s all a lie. Benitez will not leave and he will not be sacked. I can’t see that happening. I don’t think English football has lost its patience like it seems.”

Benitez could hand new signing Martin Skrtel a debut this evening, although an outing in the FA Cup against minnows Havant and Waterlooville on Saturday seems more likely.

Dirk Kuyt is challenging Peter Crouch for a place alongside Torres in attack, while Javier Mascherano, Harry Kewell, Fabio Aurelio and Yossi Benayoun are vying for a recall. Pepe Reina will return in goal.

The weekend’s results mean Liverpool are now 11 points behind third-placed Chelsea, but Benitez wants his players to concentrate on winning rather than looking at the table.

“We are not thinking about the gap, we can see it,” he added. “To change it we must win games in a row rather than to keep looking at the table and worrying.

“The problem for us this season has been the expectation. We were told we were spending big money and can be contenders but if you look at the last 10 years, the difference between Liverpool and the top has frequently been around 20 points.

“You must not spend every week looking at the table because you will lose confidence and play with more anxiety.

“We need to gain some points now and see what situation we are in when we go to Chelsea next month.”

Meanwhile, young defender Robbie Threlfall has extended his loan spell at Hereford United until the end of the season.