Rafa Benitez has boldly predicted he can take the title back to Liverpool for the first time since 1990.
In a rare show of optimism and confidence, the manager of the Barclays Premier League leaders insists he has the team to topple Manchester United and Chelsea.
Liverpool are only one point clear of Chelsea going into Saturday's home game with Hull but Benitez was in no mood to dampen mounting optimism on Merseyside after being angered by claims he had written off his side as genuine challengers.
Benitez said: ‘Of course we can win the title. I want to put across a positive message about our chances because we have every right to be positive.
'We are top of the table, playing really well away and have made just two mistakes in our last two home games.
‘We have players of real quality who are full of confidence. Why shouldn’t we be positive?
'If we are top at the end of the Christmas programme, we will have an 80 per cent chance of going all the way.
'Usually, teams who are top after Christmas go on to be champions, and we can do the same.
‘Everybody criticises the team at the top. Beforehand it was Manchester United or Chelsea.
'But now it is Liverpool top, and it is our turn.
'That is why we are being criticised, because we are the leaders. A month ago, we still had something to prove but not any more.
'A month on, we have proved to people that we can do it. We can win the title, but —and this applies to any team who become champions — you must do everything almost perfectly.’
The Liverpool manager flatly denied saying all three of their main rivals, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal, would have to ‘mess up’ for the Anfield side to be champions for the first time since 1990.
Shedding his usual caution, Benitez hammered out the most upbeat forecast of his four-and-a-half-year reign as he brushed aside any worrying signs from successive 0-0 home draws with Fulham and West Ham, and being rated only third favourites by some bookies.
He said: ‘The other thing in our favour is that generally we are better and stronger in the second half of the season. We have important players coming back and there is no doubt we can kick on and improve on what we have already done.
'That is why I believe we can win the title.’
Benitez warned he would not tolerate any agitating by disaffected players, after recent complaints from Yossi Benayoun, Ryan Babel and Daniel Agger about limited opportunities.
Benayoun hinted he was ready to leave, Babel tried to engineer a loan move to Ajax earlier in the week and Agger has been linked with AC Milan.
All have been put in their place by Benitez, who underlined his determination to prevent Liverpool’s title charge being derailed by any unrest.
‘The players all know they will get chances and it could be in important games,’ he said.
‘Just look at what happened with Vladimir Smicer. He was hardly getting a look-in, then suddenly he was playing in the Champions League Final and scoring one of the goals that helped us win it.
Some might not make as many appearances as they would like but they can play a crucial part towards the end of the season.
'We will have a lot of games and injuries are bound to kick in, so everyone will be involved.
'You can be sure of that.
‘Harmony in the squad is vital, but I can guarantee that the atmosphere in the camp is very good and very positive.
'It isn’t always easy keeping a large squad happy all the time, but all I would say to the players is that they must respect the rules.
‘They have to accept there is a right way of doing things, and that means having respect for your team-mates and for what we are trying to do.
'It is one thing to say you want to play, but you have to think about the others.
'Who do you think you should be playing instead of?
'Don’t show disrespect to your colleagues. That is a very important principle.
‘The only way to react is by working harder than ever in training and hoping you have done enough to persuade the manager to pick you.
'I have had conversations with others in the squad, apart from Babel and Benayoun, and the message is the same for all of them.
'They all understand the rules and how things have to be done, and I can assure you everyone is pulling in the same direction.
'That is clear.’
As a further boost to Liverpool’s title aspirations, Benitez revealed that Fernando Torres and Martin Skrtel are both close to full fitness.
In a rare show of optimism and confidence, the manager of the Barclays Premier League leaders insists he has the team to topple Manchester United and Chelsea.
Liverpool are only one point clear of Chelsea going into Saturday's home game with Hull but Benitez was in no mood to dampen mounting optimism on Merseyside after being angered by claims he had written off his side as genuine challengers.
Benitez said: ‘Of course we can win the title. I want to put across a positive message about our chances because we have every right to be positive.
'We are top of the table, playing really well away and have made just two mistakes in our last two home games.
‘We have players of real quality who are full of confidence. Why shouldn’t we be positive?
'If we are top at the end of the Christmas programme, we will have an 80 per cent chance of going all the way.
'Usually, teams who are top after Christmas go on to be champions, and we can do the same.
‘Everybody criticises the team at the top. Beforehand it was Manchester United or Chelsea.
'But now it is Liverpool top, and it is our turn.
'That is why we are being criticised, because we are the leaders. A month ago, we still had something to prove but not any more.
'A month on, we have proved to people that we can do it. We can win the title, but —and this applies to any team who become champions — you must do everything almost perfectly.’
The Liverpool manager flatly denied saying all three of their main rivals, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal, would have to ‘mess up’ for the Anfield side to be champions for the first time since 1990.
Shedding his usual caution, Benitez hammered out the most upbeat forecast of his four-and-a-half-year reign as he brushed aside any worrying signs from successive 0-0 home draws with Fulham and West Ham, and being rated only third favourites by some bookies.
He said: ‘The other thing in our favour is that generally we are better and stronger in the second half of the season. We have important players coming back and there is no doubt we can kick on and improve on what we have already done.
'That is why I believe we can win the title.’
Benitez warned he would not tolerate any agitating by disaffected players, after recent complaints from Yossi Benayoun, Ryan Babel and Daniel Agger about limited opportunities.
Benayoun hinted he was ready to leave, Babel tried to engineer a loan move to Ajax earlier in the week and Agger has been linked with AC Milan.
All have been put in their place by Benitez, who underlined his determination to prevent Liverpool’s title charge being derailed by any unrest.
‘The players all know they will get chances and it could be in important games,’ he said.
‘Just look at what happened with Vladimir Smicer. He was hardly getting a look-in, then suddenly he was playing in the Champions League Final and scoring one of the goals that helped us win it.
Some might not make as many appearances as they would like but they can play a crucial part towards the end of the season.
'We will have a lot of games and injuries are bound to kick in, so everyone will be involved.
'You can be sure of that.
‘Harmony in the squad is vital, but I can guarantee that the atmosphere in the camp is very good and very positive.
'It isn’t always easy keeping a large squad happy all the time, but all I would say to the players is that they must respect the rules.
‘They have to accept there is a right way of doing things, and that means having respect for your team-mates and for what we are trying to do.
'It is one thing to say you want to play, but you have to think about the others.
'Who do you think you should be playing instead of?
'Don’t show disrespect to your colleagues. That is a very important principle.
‘The only way to react is by working harder than ever in training and hoping you have done enough to persuade the manager to pick you.
'I have had conversations with others in the squad, apart from Babel and Benayoun, and the message is the same for all of them.
'They all understand the rules and how things have to be done, and I can assure you everyone is pulling in the same direction.
'That is clear.’
As a further boost to Liverpool’s title aspirations, Benitez revealed that Fernando Torres and Martin Skrtel are both close to full fitness.
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