While Fernando Torres continues to recover from his groin problem – a rehabilitation that is likely to see him miss Tuesday’s Champions League meeting with Debrecen in Hungary – and Philipp Degen serves the second game of his three-match ban, Benitez has an almost full strength squad to choose from.

It is a luxury that has this season rarely been afforded to the Spaniard, who believes Liverpool will soon be in a position to realise their true potential.

“If we can keep the players fit for a while you can see the difference,” says Benitez. “You could see the difference Gerrard made the other day and people have been speaking about two top-class players, Gerrard and Torres, not playing together.

“But we also had Mascherano, Agger and Skrtel with problems, too many good players injured at the same time. If we can keep the majority fit now it will be easier for us to win games.”

The 2-2 draw with Birmingham City in their last game two weeks ago extended Liverpool’s poor run of form to one win in nine games.

It has pushed them down to seventh in the Premier League standings, a point behind City having played a game more.

And with the Goodison derby to come next Sunday, Benitez accepts Liverpool are entering a crucial period.

“When you have important games to play, the best way to show everyone we are doing well is simply to win,” he says. “It will be totally different if we can beat City and Debrecen and Lyon can get something at Fiorentina. We will still be alive and can concentrate on winning more games.

“It is too early to talk about final league positions, but clearly it is a big game for both clubs. But we must be confident we can win.

“I am not among the managers, 80% I am told, in the Premier League who believe City will finish in the top four. We will be in the top four.”

While not quite a clash between haves and the have nots, the immense financial clout of City’s Abu Dhabi backers has made is easier for Eastlands manager Mark Hughes to swiftly build a strong squad compared to the wheeling and dealing that has been enforced on Benitez by the financial climate at Anfield.

But the Spaniard believes that the long-term plan is the best way forward. “We don’t have the money (that City have) to try and buy success,” says Benitez.

“It’s question of building your team little by little and try and be successful with signings every year. They are different ways.

“In short term you can be successful doing the City way. But in long term, you have to keep building. I am in charge of the Academy now and we want to create a philosophy and have the same structure in the Academy and link it to Melwood. That takes time but we think that is the best way.

“In modern football you don’t have many local players at a club. If you can produce your local players you have more passion, commitment and desire with the club. That takes time and you have to have a very good coaching player, a good model and recruit players at the right time.”

Benitez adds: “City still have a very good Academy system, so to do both things at the same time will probably be their idea.

“But if you have more money you go to a specific section of the market of top players, then that makes it easier to win things.”