RAFAEL BENITEZ still believes Liverpool can claim the final Champions League berth despite admitting his side were now locked in a four-way battle for fourth place.

Despite a surprise return to action for Fernando Torres, Benitez’s men laboured to a dismal goalless draw at near rivals Manchester City yesterday.

With Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa both winning, only a single point separates the four challengers with Liverpool having dropped down to sixth.

And Benitez admits the dire Eastlands stalemate represented a missed opportunity for both his team and City.

“It’s not a good result for either team,” said the Spaniard. “We both wanted to win. “You have to think about Tottenham and Villa, it’s a race of four teams now.

“It’s important to ensure we get three points in every game.

“We can’t just look at City, Tottenham are there and Villa are there. But I have to believe.

“If the manager doesn’t have confidence it is difficult for the players.”

The most encouraging aspect of the afternoon for Liverpool was the cameo appearance of Torres from the bench for the final 15 minutes.

Torres has been absent since the FA Cup replay defeat to Reading almost six weeks ago after undergoing knee surgery.

Yossi Benayoun also made his return from the bench yesterday after being sidelined for a similar period with a rib problem.

And with Glen Johnson expected to be back in full training this week, Benitez said: “I have to think about the positives.

“We were strong and doing well and we had two players coming back.

“I think we have enough quality, Yossi (Benayoun) is coming back, (Fernando) Torres is coming back, hopefully (Glen) Johnson will come back in the next week. So we are now bringing players back and the competition will be better for us and hopefully we can improve.”