Source: Team_Talk
Benitez keen to improve away record
After a long and arduous trip to Madrid in the week, Rafael Benitez must turn his attention to a shorter journey equally fraught with problems.[LNB] His Liverpool side head to struggling Burnley on Sunday knowing their faint hopes of finishing fourth in the Premier League will be all but over if Tottenham have already beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford.[LNB]Their woeful domestic away record has largely contributed to that situation as they have won just four and lost eight of their 17 matches on the road.[LNB]Liverpool's last two trips this season are to Turf Moor and Hull on the final day but even victories there and also at home to Chelsea are probably not going to be enough to get them into the Champions League next season.[LNB]Benitez accepts their away form has been the major stumbling block to success this season and with a crucial Europa League semi-final second leg coming up on Thursday there is a danger his players will be too focused on that.[LNB]"We know our record away this year is not the best so we cannot go there thinking the job is done, we have to do it," said the Spaniard, whose only piece of good news this week was the reopening of British airspace which prevented another 1,200-mile return overland from Madrid.[LNB]"Always you have an opportunity to change this record and it is positive that we were able to return home (from Madrid) by plane because we were originally thinking about arriving late on Saturday evening.[LNB]"We will have some time when we can rest and be ready. We know it will be a massive game and we will try to do our best.[LNB]"Never is it easy to play away, especially against a team which is fighting relegation.[LNB]"We have confidence and hopefully we can play well, score goals and have more confidence for the second leg against Atletico.[LNB]"We have got to go there and claim three points."[LNB]Benitez has refused to give up on fourth place despite the odds lengthening and fixtures shortening by the week.[LNB]The Liverpool manager is still holding out hope Spurs, City and now Aston Villa, who moved ahead of them into sixth with a midweek win over Hull, will slip up.[LNB]"Fourth place will be difficult and we know we are in a bad position but we still have to do our job," he continued.[LNB]"In the league we have to do the same and try to win and see what happens with the other teams.[LNB]"It could be a good game to play in between our Europa League."[LNB]Liverpool returned from Madrid with another injury worry after striker David Ngog had to come off with a back problem in the second half against Atletico.[LNB]With star striker Fernando Torres out for the remainder of the campaign after a second knee operation and four defenders currently sidelined it leaves the squad looking a bit thin.[LNB]Benitez will assess what effect the trip and match in Madrid had on his players before deciding who is ready to face a tricky test at Burnley.[LNB]One player certain to return is midfielder Maxi Rodriguez, who will be fresh after remaining on Merseyside because he was ineligible for Europe.[LNB]"We have to consider a lot of things. We have to train and see how they feel and after this we will analyse carefully but we cannot make decisions now," said the Reds boss.[LNB]"We had five players injured against Atletico so it is not easy to change them because we don't have too many fresh legs but we will try to manage with the fixtures.[LNB]"The medical staff are doing a good job and I think it will be okay."
