Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has admitted the Boxing Day clash with Wolves is a must-win encounter for his side.
The Reds currently find themselves in eighth spot in the table and eight points off the pace in the battle to finish in the top four.
Liverpool welcome Wolves to Anfield aiming to bounce back from their shock 2-0 defeat to Portsmouth last weekend and Benitez accepts three points is a must if they are to keep alive their hopes of a top four finish.
"We have to win," said Benitez. "We must approach every game looking to win. You never know what will happen. This year all the teams are losing more games.
"We have confidence because in the past - for two or three seasons - we have done well in the second half of the league season. We have won a lot of games in a row and have confidence that, if we have players fit, we will do that again.
"We have to be ready for the first game. Hopefully we can win and if we do it will be easier, but it will be a tough game at Villa.
"City, Tottenham and Villa are doing well. We have to compete with them. Last year Villa did well but lost some games. Now they have spent some money and have good players, so it will be difficult to fight for this position."
Fernando Torres has spoken out in support of under-fire Benitez saying the players should take more responsibility for Liverpool's poor form this season.
Benitez insists everybody at the club is working hard to try and turn things around at Anfield.
Asked about Torres' claims, Benitez said: "I don't know if he said it. You can read things in the press but when you talk with the player, sometimes it is not the same. I have spoken with him and some of the other players. We know we have to improve on the pitch.
"As a manager you have some experience. Sometimes you will have good moments and other times, bad moments. But because we are a top side we will have to improve.
"We are preparing a lot of things that we were doing well. We are trying to correct mistakes. But after, we have gone on to the pitch - like against Arsenal - and done well, you need to score goals and finish the game. We didn't do that, so we look to the next one and it will be easier if we win.
"The players are working hard in every training session and I can guarantee they are working 100 per cent and trying to win every game."
The Reds currently find themselves in eighth spot in the table and eight points off the pace in the battle to finish in the top four.
Liverpool welcome Wolves to Anfield aiming to bounce back from their shock 2-0 defeat to Portsmouth last weekend and Benitez accepts three points is a must if they are to keep alive their hopes of a top four finish.
"We have to win," said Benitez. "We must approach every game looking to win. You never know what will happen. This year all the teams are losing more games.
"We have confidence because in the past - for two or three seasons - we have done well in the second half of the league season. We have won a lot of games in a row and have confidence that, if we have players fit, we will do that again.
"We have to be ready for the first game. Hopefully we can win and if we do it will be easier, but it will be a tough game at Villa.
"City, Tottenham and Villa are doing well. We have to compete with them. Last year Villa did well but lost some games. Now they have spent some money and have good players, so it will be difficult to fight for this position."
Fernando Torres has spoken out in support of under-fire Benitez saying the players should take more responsibility for Liverpool's poor form this season.
Benitez insists everybody at the club is working hard to try and turn things around at Anfield.
Asked about Torres' claims, Benitez said: "I don't know if he said it. You can read things in the press but when you talk with the player, sometimes it is not the same. I have spoken with him and some of the other players. We know we have to improve on the pitch.
"As a manager you have some experience. Sometimes you will have good moments and other times, bad moments. But because we are a top side we will have to improve.
"We are preparing a lot of things that we were doing well. We are trying to correct mistakes. But after, we have gone on to the pitch - like against Arsenal - and done well, you need to score goals and finish the game. We didn't do that, so we look to the next one and it will be easier if we win.
"The players are working hard in every training session and I can guarantee they are working 100 per cent and trying to win every game."
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