BY half past two this afternoon either Liverpool’s Premier League dream will be over or they will have been handed an unlikely lifeline.

Manchester United need just a point from their lunchtime clash with Arsenal to equal the Reds’ record of 18 league titles.

Arrangements have been made to present the trophy at Old Trafford today but Rafael Benitez wasn’t prepared to throw the towel in yesterday.

The Spaniard believes the Gunners are capable of doing Liverpool a favour and ensuring there is something still riding on tomorrow’s trip to relegation-threatened West Bromwich Albion.

"We have to think positively," says Benitez. "Arsenal are a good team with quality and after the defeats they have had in the last two games they have something to prove.

"Arsene Wenger is a winner and he will want to get a result. It could be a tough game for United.

"Hopefully we will still have a chance on Sunday. If the title race is still on we will fight for that, otherwise we will fight for second place.

"All we can do is think about getting three points in our game."

If United wrap things up today Liverpool will be consigned to a third successive trophyless campaign.

However, Benitez insists his players should be proud of the progress made at Anfield this season. Victory at The Hawthorns tomorrow would secure their best-ever points return in the Premier League.

"It’s always important to have targets," he says. "We have 80 points and 82 is our best total in history. To get 83 would be fantastic but 86 would be even better.

"We have to be really pleased to be in this position at this stage of the season.

"We are playing well, scoring lots of goals and that is really positive for the future.

"Some people talk about trophies but in the Premier League it is not easy.

"There is Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal. In the future maybe Manchester City, Tottenham, Aston Villa will be challenging.

"It’s not easy but to be contenders is the key. If you are 20 points behind you have no chance but this year we are so close and that’s good news for the future.

"Before people talked about us as a team for the cup or the Champions League, now we’ve shown we’re a team for the Premier League.