Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool's success or otherwise this season will depend on results over the next ten days. The Reds face Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday before travelling to Spain to face Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday. Next Saturday they are at Middlesbrough in the league before facing Sunderland at home on March 3.

"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," the Liverpool boss, said.

"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.

"It now depends on one or two weeks to see what happens. Everything can change in just a few days. 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.

"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. We have four games very quickly now, and there is not time to rest players and recover. 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."