Benitez 'still confident' of fourth

Rafael Benitez is "still confident" Liverpool will finish fourth in the Premier League providing they maintain the form showed against Benfica. Benitez's side produced an outstanding performance against the Portuguese outfit on Thursday to overturn a first-leg deficit and power into the Europa League semi-finals.Such was the manner of their 4-1 win, which secured a 5-3 aggregate success, their continuing struggles in the Premier League seemed a world away - but reality will soon return.Last week's frustrating draw at Birmingham has left the Reds facing an uphill struggle to deliver on Benitez's "guarantee" of Champions League qualification.The Spaniard, however, is not giving up and feels the tone has now been set for the final five games of the campaign, beginning with Fulham at Anfield.Benitez said: "I think it is important when you are playing well and scoring goals to keep the momentum. Hopefully we can keep this level."The fans and the atmosphere were very good and the players have an extra motivation when they can feel the atmosphere."We know we are in a position that it depends on others making mistakes but we have to do our job."We cannot be watching the others, we have to win our games."We have to concentrate on the next game, get three points and then get ready for the next one."I am still confident if we do our job we will be there."It is really important to score a lot of goals at home. The players will have more confidence and we know we will have to start with it against Fulham."Liverpool missed an opportunity to get themselves back within touching distance of the top four as they were held at St Andrew's.It was just one of a number of disappointing results for the Reds this term but Benitez is adamant all is not lost.He added: "We knew before when we had six games left we could draw only one."Everybody thought of maybe drawing against Chelsea but now we have drawn against Birmingham so we have to win the others."Sunday's encounter could be the first of two meetings between the two clubs should both win through to the Europa League final.Fulham will play Hamburg in the semis after seeing off Wolfsburg while Liverpool tackle Atletico Madrid.Benitez has respect for the achievements of the Cottagers and their manager Roy Hodgson."Hopefully we can see Fulham in the final and there will be two English teams there," he said."That will be very good for England. Fulham are doing very well."

Source: Team_Talk