A story on Friday claimed Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was unsure of their chances of winning the Premier League. The inference was Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal would have to blow their chances rather than The Reds winning on merit.

Benitez has moved quickly to reject perceived defeatist talk by saying the report has been twisted.

"We are really pleased because we are top and I can guarantee that if we are still top of the table after Christmas we will have a clear chance of winning the title," insisted Benitez.

"It was an interview with a French journalist and we were talking about tactics. I was really surprised with the story but everyone in Liverpool knows about this newspaper.

"We are at the top of the table because we are doing things better than the others. It is up to us and that is it."