Rafael Benitez today called on his players to serve up a
repeat of their performance against Manchester United last month
when Liverpool cross swords with Manchester City at Anfield on
Saturday.
The Reds are looking to halt a run of one win in nine matches,
though that victory came against
United in October as goals from Fernando Torres and David Ngog secured a fully-deserved triumph in front of the
Kop.
Benitez is eager for a similar display when Mark Hughes' City
arrive on Merseyside.
"We have to do our job, play well and if we play at the same level
we can beat anyone," the boss told his weekly press conference at
Melwood.
"If we can beat United by playing well, I think we can do it
against City."
The game with the Citizens kicks-off an important week of fixtures
for Liverpool, with trips to Debrecen and Everton to follow.
"It is an important week, but at our club every week is always
important," said Benitez.
"Hopefully in April we will be talking about another important week
and it will mean we are playing for something.
"The first thing we have to do is try to win against City and then
afterwards concentrate on Debrecen and then Everton. We will take
things one step at a time."
City will travel to Anfield with genuine aspirations of breaking
into the top four this season.
The Eastlands club currently sit one point and place ahead of
Liverpool in the table, but Benitez believes it is too early to be
predicting the season's potential outcome.
Asked if this match would go some way to deciding which teams will
make up the top four come May, the gaffer replied: "It is too early
to tell, but it will be an important game for both sides.
"Clearly we know things can change every week in football. You have
to try and win and wait and see what happens afterwards, but I am
not worried about what people say.
"I am only worried about what the mood is like in our dressing room
and if we play well and win.
"We have to approach the game with confidence that we can win. We
cannot be thinking about every game and whether it is more or less
important than others. This one is the most important for us
because it's the next one we have to play."
He added: "City are playing well. They are a good team, have good
players and a manager with experience, so it will be a tough and
important game for us.
"Afterwards, we have the Champions League and then Everton and we
know every game from now will be important because we want to
progress and be higher in the table.
"If we can do things well, I am sure we will be in the top
four."
Meanwhile, Benitez was asked for his views on the controversy
surrounding France's decisive goal in their World Cup qualifying
playoff with Ireland on Wednesday evening.
Quizzed by reporters on whether the use of video technology could
have prevented the incident in which Thierry Henry seemingly
handled the ball before setting up William Gallas' equaliser, the
manager said: "Clearly it was handball. I am always talking about
how video technology can maybe help. Everyone could see it was
handball and that's it.
"To use it (video technology) properly is not easy, but for an
incident like this I think it can help 100 per cent.
"For the other things such as technical points it will be more
difficult, but maybe one day we will find a way."