Benitez still chasing top-four finish

(GSM) – Liverpool Manger Rafael Benitez is still confident Liverpool can finish in the top four and believes the players’ previous experience will be the key.

The Reds have endured a hugely disappointing season and currently lie sixth in the table, four points behind Spurs in fourth and two behind Manchester City, having played a game more than both.

Aston Villa are also very much in the hunt and are currently level on points with Liverpool, with a game in hand, which has set up an exciting climax to the race for Champions League qualification.

Benitez is confident his players can rise to the occasion with at least five wins required from their last seven matches.

“I had the belief before last weekend’s defeat at Manchester United and the main thing is to keep focused on our games and try to win and we will see what happens with the other teams,” said the former Valencia boss.

Rafa said, “Normally when you are in a top side and you have been in a top side for years you expect to approach every game thinking about just winning.”

“With the other teams you never know but at this moment they have an excellent motivation,” he added.

Liverpool boss mentioned the importance of top four, “But it is different for them, when they have been coming fifth, sixth or seventh, to go forward than when you have been in the top four and have had some problems.”

“That is the extra motivation they have so the experience we have will be our motivation too,” he concluded.

Liverpool cannot afford too many more, if any, slip-ups on the run-in and they next host Sunderland, who have won just once away from home all season, at Anfield on Sunday.