Benitez: Focus On Next Games; Not Table

The Reds are currently fourth and 15 points behind leaders Manchester United. However, Benitez believes that wins away to the top three could hold the key to keeping his side’s title hopes alive.

"We don't think about the gap between us and the clubs above us because the only way we can change things is by winning games" he said.

"If you start thinking of how far behind you are it can cause you problems because you can lose focus.

"The problem for us is expectations because people were talking about this year and saying we had to be contenders and we had spent big money but if you analyse the last 10 years the difference between us and the team at the top has always been about 20 points.

"To win the title you need to get around 89 points, or this year maybe 85, and the record of our club in the Premiership is 82.

"So to win the title you have to do everything almost perfect and because we know it is not easy we cannot be looking at the table every week because you will just end up losing your confidence and playing with more anxiety."

The Reds boss admits that the Merseyside club have struggled on their visits to Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and the Emirates over the past few years, but feels positive results this season on their travels would go a long way to reducing the gap at the summit.

"I think it is important to say the next target is to win against Aston Villa, then try to win the next game in the cup and then try to beat West Ham and Sunderland in the league and then we play against Chelsea.

"This game will maybe be the key but for me the key is to have targets of two or three games and no more because if you think of the table you will play with anxiety and you will play worse.

"We will see where we are in two or three games and the key this year if we want to reduce the gap are the games away at Chelsea, Arsenal and Man United.

"Normally our performances against these teams away from home are not the best so if we want to change something for the better we must go into these games with options.

"But watching the table will do us no good."