Rafael Benitez has urged his Liverpool players not
to lose their belief ahead of another vital Premier League clash
away to West Ham tomorrow. Victory for the Reds at Upton Park will
put them back on top of the table on goal difference, at least for
24 hours until leaders Manchester United face Manchester City at
Old Trafford on Sunday.
But however hard Liverpool have chased the champions in these
closing weeks of the campaign, the slip-ups that they crave have
just not materialised.
Arguably their last chance comes when United play their next
three league matches in a week, with games against Wigan and
Arsenal following the Manchester derby.
Benitez, who will be without ankle-injury victim Xabi Alonso in
east London on Saturday, said: "Every single week it has been an
opportunity for us, to get three points and to put pressure on
Manchester United.
"We must keep winning, keep pushing and see what happens. It
could be difficult for them against Manchester City, but United are
a very good team with equally good players. "But you never know
what could happen. It is up to us to win our games and be
waiting."
He added: "Maybe, hopefully, City can do us a favour. But there
is nothing we can do about that match, only ours. "And I am not
even sure whether I will be watching the game, there's nothing I
can contribute so it may be better to just enjoy the day with my
family.
"But we have to believe. We have done well, we have been able to
win a lot of games right at the end which shows our fitness. We
have gained a lot of experience and the spirit has been fantastic
among the players. "We will push right until the end. Even that
will be of use to us in the future, but we still must believe we
can do something this season, not wait for next."
Benitez will have Fernando Torres (hamstring) and Javier
Mascherano (ankle) fit to play, and maintains his own defiant
belief that something could still disrupt Manchester United's
relentless march toward retaining their crown.
He said: "We have always talked about a twist in the end, maybe
United will have problems against Manchester City or Arsenal in
their run-in. "We have always known that this season was crucial to
our development, but also that we must continue to have a positive
approach to everything.
"It has been good experience. But whatever people are saying
about this season and our chances, we must maintain our
concentration right to the end and stay focused in every game. "We
have confidence we will be the closest challengers to United over
the next few years. "But we have always felt we could win it this
season, we have confidence in our squad and they have worked so
hard. I hope I am answering in a different way in a fortnight, but
we have gained a lot of experience whatever happens."
Benitez paid tribute to the job Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola has
done in his first management job. He says: "West Ham will be
difficult. Zola is doing a good job, they are confident and playing
well. "Zola was a fantastic player and now he is showing he can be
a fine manager, he is doing a good job there.
"It was a little difficult for him at the start, it always is
when a new manager takes over. But he is clever, he knows the
league and what to do, he will make a good manager. "But we know we
have to win. A point is not good enough so the message is very
clear to my players, win and increase the pressure ahead of
United's game on Sunday."
