Liverpool change ambitions towards top four finish

Liverpool's priorities under boss Rafael Benitez are now a top four finish to ensure Champions League football next season.

And although the Reds will be considered one of the favourites to win the Europa League, clinching a place in England's top four is Benitez's main target.

"The key now is to finish in the top four to make sure we are in the Champions League group stages for the next season.

"We must concentrate on the next game, and that is the Premier League. Afterwards, if we progress in the Europa League, okay, we can still win a trophy.

"But we have to change our target. We have to think about the league and finishing in the top four. Only then can we also think about the Europa League and the FA Cup."

Benitez maintains that Liverpool would not be in their current position had striker Fernando Torres - still struggling with a serious groin injury - been fit all season.

He said: "I have been talking with two or three senior players, they realise that to be in the final stages of the Champions League every season is not easy.

"However, I do believe that with Torres fit, we would have got through into the last 16. It is the same with Steven Gerrard, he has been injured, but when you see him back on the pitch you know that with him (fit) also we would not now be in this position."

The Spaniard knows the financial implications of not returning to next season's Champions League.

Currently seventh in the Premier League, their position as part of England's 'big four' is under serious threat from Tottenham, Aston Villa and Manchester City.

Benitez said: "We want to be as high as possible in the league so we have to start by winning the next game. And that's at Everton on Sunday.

"I can say to our fans that we will improve in the league. We can see Gerrard playing again, we have (Yossi) Benayoun also coming back from injury.

"We have (Alberto) Aquilani who is fit now. We can use him when before it was not easy because of his fitness and injury.

"We have had problems with injuries to our centre-backs, but we now have four who are fit for the first time for a long while.

"For me these are the positive things that we can look forward to for the rest of the season."
He added: "If I could change anything, it would be to have our big players fit. For a change it would be good to have a problem of who to select, before this has not been the case."