Benitez adds: “It has been a difficult season. Expectations were too high at the beginning, we made some mistakes and we can talk about all the problems, injuries all these things but now they do not matter.

“Because we have been in a situation where we are not doing really well all season people now are saying we are closer, but to stay calm is the key. We have experience in the past of being at this level, fighting for the top four and we were doing well, so we have to do it.”

Benitez took the unusual step of publicly lambasting his players after their shocking first-half performance at the DW Stadium.

Perhaps he had exhausted all other options in his attempts to bring some consistency and urgency to his under-performing charges, but the Spaniard acknowledges that Liverpool must now show a united front.

“We knew it could be a difficult game and it was a difficult game as we didn’t show the character we had to show in the first half,” he says.

“We spoke at half-time and the second half improved in terms of attitude, but we were too anxious and made too many mistakes.

“When you play with anxiety it’s more difficult to do the right things.

“At least the character was better, and I think in the next game we will show this character because the players know we had a lot of fans singing when we weren’t playing well, trying to support the team.

“The players know they have to improve.

“I don’t remember too many games when I was that disappointed. This one was clear. We had an opportunity to be in the top four and know the other teams have games in hand.

“We needed to do things well and we didn’t.

“But if you cannot improve playing better football, then the only way you can win is by having everyone together.”

Liverpool can’t expect any respite this evening at the intimate Stade Lille-Metropole in Lille. Rudi Garcia’s side have lost just one of their last 16 home European ties and stand only four points off Ligue 1 leaders Bordeaux.

“Lille will be tough opponents, they are well organised and are good on the counter-attack,” says Benitez. “They are good at home and are playing good football this season.

“If you have a bad game or half you have to consider a blip and be ready for the next one, and we have an opportunity against Lille to do that.”

PROBABLE TEAMS:

LILLE (4-5-1): Landreau; Beria, Ricardo Costa, Rami, Plestan; Debuchy, Balmont, Mavuba, Cabaye, Hazard; Gervinho.

LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua; Mascherano, Aquilani; Babel, Gerrard, Riera; Torres.