Rafael Benitez has admitted that it is win or bust at Chelsea if Liverpool are going to have a credible Premier League campaign.
The Anfield boss believes that if his side suffer yet another defeat at Stamford Bridge, then the best they can hope for is fourth place.
That is why he has described the encounter with Chelsea as a defining moment in his team's season - even though he knows it will take a superhuman effort to win there.
Under Benitez, Liverpool have lost every time they have visited the other members of the so-called 'Big Four'. In nine visits, they have not taken a single point from Chelsea, Manchester United or Arsenal.
And with away trips to all three coming up over the next six weeks, the Spanish coach knows that if his side are to hold any ambition of closing the gap on third place, then they must start beating their biggest rivals.
With such a tough run-in, they may have to take points of the title-chasers just to remain a distant fourth.
He admitted: "It is clear we have to win at Chelsea if we want to lift our season. It is a big game for us, because a result against a big team can offer real momentum.
"We are fighting for fourth position and if we beat Chelsea we can think about maybe third position.
"But if we lose, then we're running out of games and it would be much more difficult to even think about third place. We know how important it is."
Despite Liverpool's dismal record against the clubs they consider to be their main rivals, Benitez is still confident he can pull off a major shock.
They have taken only two points from their three home games against the top three this season.
But the Spanish coach was in defiant mood yesterday, insisting that he can inspire his men to a famous victory. "I go into the game with confidence. Personally, I feel very good," he said.
"We know we will need to play better than we have to get anything at Chelsea. When you play against the top sides you must play really well if you want to get something from the game.
"I think the players have the confidence now to go and get a result. The players who were not on international duty have trained well, the sessions were really good and the mood fantastic.
"I think we can do it, I really do. We have shown in different games that we are capable of doing it. We have gone to Chelsea before and played well, and deserved more from the game. Maybe this is the time we get it."
Benitez though, will be without his top scorer Fernando Torres, and he admits there is now a major worry about where the goals will come from.
His record against the top teams hasn't been good enough, but he argues that against the very best teams, it is the smallest of details that decide the outcome.
"When you play at Chelsea, it isn't easy. It isn't just Liverpool, nobody wins there, because they are so strong at home.
"So it's important to be focused on not making mistakes, because you know the small details are always important against a top team, especially away from home.
"We have played well, but I've said it before many times, we need to start taking the chances we create.
"How do we do that? I was asked a few weeks ago about why only Steven Gerrard and Torres are scoring.
But now we've lost Torres, we'll see if Gerrard can score!
"Clearly, we need goalscorers from all over the team. I hope the team will be ready, but goalscoring has been a problem for us from other areas, that is clear."
Liverpool will be forced to play Javier Mascherano, even after his long trip in midweek to the United States for a meaningless friendly with the Argentine Olympic squad, because Xabi Alonso is suspended.
Peter Crouch will start up front with Dirk Kuyt behind, and Benitez must also decide whether to continue with his unpopular tactic of employing Jamie Carragher at right-back.
Liverpool are the league's draw specialists with 10 games finishing all square.
The Anfield boss believes that if his side suffer yet another defeat at Stamford Bridge, then the best they can hope for is fourth place.
That is why he has described the encounter with Chelsea as a defining moment in his team's season - even though he knows it will take a superhuman effort to win there.
Under Benitez, Liverpool have lost every time they have visited the other members of the so-called 'Big Four'. In nine visits, they have not taken a single point from Chelsea, Manchester United or Arsenal.
And with away trips to all three coming up over the next six weeks, the Spanish coach knows that if his side are to hold any ambition of closing the gap on third place, then they must start beating their biggest rivals.
With such a tough run-in, they may have to take points of the title-chasers just to remain a distant fourth.
He admitted: "It is clear we have to win at Chelsea if we want to lift our season. It is a big game for us, because a result against a big team can offer real momentum.
"We are fighting for fourth position and if we beat Chelsea we can think about maybe third position.
"But if we lose, then we're running out of games and it would be much more difficult to even think about third place. We know how important it is."
Despite Liverpool's dismal record against the clubs they consider to be their main rivals, Benitez is still confident he can pull off a major shock.
They have taken only two points from their three home games against the top three this season.
But the Spanish coach was in defiant mood yesterday, insisting that he can inspire his men to a famous victory. "I go into the game with confidence. Personally, I feel very good," he said.
"We know we will need to play better than we have to get anything at Chelsea. When you play against the top sides you must play really well if you want to get something from the game.
"I think the players have the confidence now to go and get a result. The players who were not on international duty have trained well, the sessions were really good and the mood fantastic.
"I think we can do it, I really do. We have shown in different games that we are capable of doing it. We have gone to Chelsea before and played well, and deserved more from the game. Maybe this is the time we get it."
Benitez though, will be without his top scorer Fernando Torres, and he admits there is now a major worry about where the goals will come from.
His record against the top teams hasn't been good enough, but he argues that against the very best teams, it is the smallest of details that decide the outcome.
"When you play at Chelsea, it isn't easy. It isn't just Liverpool, nobody wins there, because they are so strong at home.
"So it's important to be focused on not making mistakes, because you know the small details are always important against a top team, especially away from home.
"We have played well, but I've said it before many times, we need to start taking the chances we create.
"How do we do that? I was asked a few weeks ago about why only Steven Gerrard and Torres are scoring.
But now we've lost Torres, we'll see if Gerrard can score!
"Clearly, we need goalscorers from all over the team. I hope the team will be ready, but goalscoring has been a problem for us from other areas, that is clear."
Liverpool will be forced to play Javier Mascherano, even after his long trip in midweek to the United States for a meaningless friendly with the Argentine Olympic squad, because Xabi Alonso is suspended.
Peter Crouch will start up front with Dirk Kuyt behind, and Benitez must also decide whether to continue with his unpopular tactic of employing Jamie Carragher at right-back.
Liverpool are the league's draw specialists with 10 games finishing all square.
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