PROUD Rafael Benitez believes the manner of Liverpool’s dramatic Champions League exit can bolster their quest for the title.

The Anfield outfit slipped out of the competition after a remarkable 4-4 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in their quarter-final second leg last night.

Trailing 3-1 from last week’s first leg, Liverpool – minus injured skipper Steven Gerrard – had levelled the aggregate by half-time with Fabio Aurelio’s free-kick and a Xabi Alonso penalty.

But a mistake by Pepe Reina in fumbling Didier Drogba’s near-post flick six minutes into the second half helped Chelsea seize the initiative with further goals from Alex and Frank Lampard then seemingly putting the home side through.

However, two strikes in three minutes from Lucas and Dirk Kuyt ensured a grandstand finish before Lampard’s second finished the tie in the closing moments.

And Benitez is convinced that the fighting spirit and character demonstrated by his side can stand them in good stead as they now turn their sole attentions to chasing down Manchester United in the race for the Barclays Premier League title.

“Clearly, when you lose it’s always disappointing,” said the Anfield manager. “But to lose in this way, you can be really proud with our heads held high, and thinking about the Premier League it can be a positive.

“We showed we could score four goals here at Stamford Bridge and we can do in any stadium now. We can win a lot of games doing this.”

Benitez added: “We showed character, quality and we have to be really proud. The players have done a fantastic job, and the fans will be very pleased with the team.

“We were on top of them from the beginning and were doing a fantastic job. Credit must go to the players and especially Lucas for his performance in the position of Gerrard in the middle behind Torres. We were very, very close.

“But if you make a mistake against a team like Chelsea then you are going to pay for it. We were attacking but we made one or two mistakes and that cost us a few goals.”