RAFA: LET'S PROVE WE'RE TITLE CONTENDERS

Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool will announce themselves as genuine title challengers this season if they pick up three points at Portsmouth this afternoon.


The Reds start the weekend at the top of the league table but Benitez knows a tough test awaits his side on the south coast, especially as he's been without the majority of his players for the last two weeks.

While victory at Fratton Park will consolidate the Reds' position in first place, Benitez insists it will also serve as a notice to the rest of the country that his team are to be taken seriously in this year's race.

"Portsmouth are a difficult team to play against," he said. "They have a manager and players with experience, they know how to control games, they have quality and always have confidence playing at home where their supporters are very good for them.

"This type of game, after an international break and being unable to train properly, if we can beat them then people might be able to talk about Liverpool as a title contender, and maybe I would agree with them.

"If we cannot win, we just need to keep working and try and be ready for the next game. If we win then it will be a boost for everyone here.

"We were talking during pre-season about the quality of the squad, and in the last few games playing without Gerrard and Carragher we still showed character and quality. That's the best thing about us this year.

"We can use different players and can win, and we can lose key players and continue winning."