Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is adamant they can finish in the top four.

Despite their draw with Manchester City, Benitez insists there is no need to panic.

Liverpool had to overcome a string of injury problems, before and during the match.

Glen Johnson failed a fitness test in the morning on his calf problem, while Liverpool had to re-jig their side twice when Daniel Agger and Ryan Babel went off before the 18th minute mark.

Agger needed five stitches in a head wound and Babel has an ankle injury that could rule him out of the Champions League trip to Hungary to face Debrecen on Tuesday.

Benitez, aware of City's top-four aspirations, again maintained: "We will finish in the top four when we get our injured players back."

The Anfield men suffered more problems. Benitez said: "We had a shocking day with injuries. Glen was not happy with his calf and he had been limping a bit in training.

"Then we lose Agger and Babel. We had one problem after another. We had to use players who have not been training with the squad, but we still managed to score first.

"We felt we could hang on, then they scored twice and we had to show great character to hit back at them to get the equaliser. We then had a couple of great chances at the end and could have won the game.

"You cannot be happy with a home draw, but to lose three players from your game plan is very difficult. And of course we had three players on the bench who have been for treatment in Belgrade and had not been training with the team.

"It is not easy to manage, but the reaction of the players was fantastic. You cannot ask for more from players in such a position. City have quality. But if we can improve and play at our top level, we will be in the top four."