Source: Daily_Mail
Desperate Rafa Benitez calls on Liverpool squad to keep the faith! Reds boss targets top four
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has urged his players to still believe they can play Champions League football next season. [LNB]Sunday's 1-1 draw at Birmingham further dented the Reds' hopes of finishing fourth in the Barclays Premier League and winning a place at Europe's top table next term. [LNB]Benitez's side trail fourth-placed Manchester City by four points, and fifth-placed Tottenham by three, and they have played a game more than their two rivals. [LNB] On target: Ridgewell scored Birmingham's equaliser on Sunday [LNB]Other than an Anfield date with Chelsea on May 1, their other fourmatches appear on paper to be more straightforward - they are at hometo Fulham and West Ham, and travel to Burnley and Hull. [LNB]But when you consider their last away win in the league was at theend of December - a run of seven matches - nothing can be taken forgranted. [LNB]Benitez, though, is convinced Champions League football is not beyond his players, and is demanding they do not lose heart. [LNB]'The players were disappointed after Birmingham because it was agood performance and we had some chances at the end,' Benitez told theclub's official website. [LNB] Kop that! Gerrard had given Liverpool the lead at St Andrews[LNB][LNB]'But I told them, 'There's still five games so we need to keepgoing'. 'If we play in the same way then we'll at least win our games,then we'll see what happens. [LNB]'They (City) have some difficult games, so we just have to win our fixtures. 'Football is so special. You think 'Oh we'll win there and maybe lose there', but then everything changes. [LNB]'We just have to think about getting three points against Fulham onSunday and then see what happens. We have to keep the belief.' [LNB]Prior to that Liverpool face the small matter of trying to overturna 2-1 first-leg deficit to Benfica in the return of their Europa Leaguequarter-final at Anfield on Thursday.[LNB]'The Europa League now is a very, very important trophy for us and we have to win against Benfica,' added Benitez. [LNB] Away-day blues could have cost us fourth, admits Reds skipper GerrardSpurs look to hijack Liverpool's bid for Rangers teen sensation Danny WilsonLiverpool takeover: Deadline extended for potential buy out of ownersLiverpool snub £110m new investment as Gerrard tells team-mates to shut it!LIVERPOOL FC
