Benitez braced for the 10 days that will define Liverpool's season

21 February 2009 00:11
Rafa Benitez believes Liverpool's[LNB]trophy chances will unfold in a four-game run crammed into just 10 days.[LNB]Liverpool face Manchester City [LNB]at Anfield on Sunday and then travel to Spain to face Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.[LNB]Next Saturday they are at Middlesbrough [LNB]before facing Sunderland [LNB]at home on March 3.[LNB] Time for heroes: Rafa Benitez needs Liverpool at their best[LNB] Chelsea old boy Lassana Diarra out for revenge on Liverpool with Real[LNB]Liverpool boss Rafa refuses to risk Gerrard against Manchester City[LNB]LIVERPOOL FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB] With Manchester United[LNB]producing a relentless winning run at the top of the Barclays Premier League, the Liverpool boss conceded there can be no slip-ups during the next vital spell of the season.[LNB]United's stunning form has clearly forced Benitez to view these next games in such a way, with Sir Alex Ferguson's side already five points clear at the top - which could be an eight-point margin if the champions beat Blackburn tomorrow at Old Trafford.[LNB]Benitez said: 'This is a crucial time, we have four games in a few days and that can make a massive difference to whether we will be fighting for trophies at the end of the season.[LNB]Rival: Sir Alex Ferguson[LNB] 'At this stage, you can only think of taking three points and then seeing how your rivals do. We cannot influence what happens to other teams so we must concentrate on our own job and see whether someone else loses a match or two.[LNB]'It is not just us and Manchester United, Aston Villa[LNB]still have an interest and so do Chelsea[LNB].[LNB]'It now depends on one or two weeks to see what happens. Everything can change in just a few days.[LNB]'Manchester United are a good team, they are winning many games in a row, so we know we have to win almost every game. You cannot even draw a game at the moment.[LNB]'If we can beat Manchester City it will give us confidence, every game now at this stage can affect the mood in the dressing room.[LNB]'We have four games very quickly now, and there is not time to rest players and recover.[LNB]'But we must win these games because United could still continue winning, too. That will then make our game at Old Trafford next month crucial.[LNB]'Five points is a significant lead. But it is not impossible. If we win our games before we go to Old Trafford, and then we win, the gap will be just two and then we will wait to see how that affects the situation.'[LNB] Chelsea old boy Lassana Diarra out for revenge on Liverpool with Real[LNB]Liverpool boss Rafa refuses to risk Gerrard against Manchester City[LNB]LIVERPOOL FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB][LNB] [LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail