Rafa Benitez has accepted Liverpool's away form has been their Achilles heel this season.
Their woeful domestic record away from Anfield this term has largely contributed to that situation as they have won just four and lost eight of their 17 matches on the road.
Benitez accepts their away form has been the major stumbling block to success this season and with a crucial Europa League semi-final second leg coming up on Thursday there is a danger his players will be too focused on that.
"We know our record away this year is not the best so we cannot go there thinking the job is done, we have to do it," said the Spaniard, whose side host Chelsea next weekend before travelling to Hull on the final day.
"Always you have an opportunity to change this record and it is positive that we were able to return home (from Madrid) by plane because we were originally thinking about arriving late on Saturday evening.
"We will have some time when we can rest and be ready. We know it will be a massive game and we will try to do our best.
"Never is it easy to play away, especially against a team which is fighting relegation.
"We have confidence and hopefully we can play well, score goals and have more confidence for the second leg against Atletico.
"We have got to go there and claim three points."
Benitez has refused to give up on fourth place despite the odds lengthening and fixtures shortening by the week.
The Liverpool manager is still holding out hope Spurs, City and now Aston Villa, who moved ahead of them into sixth with a midweek win over Hull, will slip up.
"Fourth place will be difficult and we know we are in a bad position but we still have to do our job," he continued.
"In the league we have to do the same and try to win and see what happens with the other teams.
"It could be a good game to play in between our Europa League."
Their woeful domestic record away from Anfield this term has largely contributed to that situation as they have won just four and lost eight of their 17 matches on the road.
Benitez accepts their away form has been the major stumbling block to success this season and with a crucial Europa League semi-final second leg coming up on Thursday there is a danger his players will be too focused on that.
"We know our record away this year is not the best so we cannot go there thinking the job is done, we have to do it," said the Spaniard, whose side host Chelsea next weekend before travelling to Hull on the final day.
"Always you have an opportunity to change this record and it is positive that we were able to return home (from Madrid) by plane because we were originally thinking about arriving late on Saturday evening.
"We will have some time when we can rest and be ready. We know it will be a massive game and we will try to do our best.
"Never is it easy to play away, especially against a team which is fighting relegation.
"We have confidence and hopefully we can play well, score goals and have more confidence for the second leg against Atletico.
"We have got to go there and claim three points."
Benitez has refused to give up on fourth place despite the odds lengthening and fixtures shortening by the week.
The Liverpool manager is still holding out hope Spurs, City and now Aston Villa, who moved ahead of them into sixth with a midweek win over Hull, will slip up.
"Fourth place will be difficult and we know we are in a bad position but we still have to do our job," he continued.
"In the league we have to do the same and try to win and see what happens with the other teams.
"It could be a good game to play in between our Europa League."
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