Rafael Benitez has urged his Liverpool players not to lose their belief ahead of another vital Premier League clash away to West Ham tomorrow. Victory for the Reds at Upton Park will put them back on top of the table on goal difference, at least for 24 hours until leaders Manchester United face Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday.
But however hard Liverpool have chased the champions in these closing weeks of the campaign, the slip-ups that they crave have just not materialised.
Arguably their last chance comes when United play their next three league matches in a week, with games against Wigan and Arsenal following the Manchester derby.
Benitez, who will be without ankle-injury victim Xabi Alonso in east London on Saturday, said: "Every single week it has been an opportunity for us, to get three points and to put pressure on Manchester United.
"We must keep winning, keep pushing and see what happens. It could be difficult for them against Manchester City, but United are a very good team with equally good players. "But you never know what could happen. It is up to us to win our games and be waiting."
He added: "Maybe, hopefully, City can do us a favour. But there is nothing we can do about that match, only ours. "And I am not even sure whether I will be watching the game, there's nothing I can contribute so it may be better to just enjoy the day with my family.
"But we have to believe. We have done well, we have been able to win a lot of games right at the end which shows our fitness. We have gained a lot of experience and the spirit has been fantastic among the players. "We will push right until the end. Even that will be of use to us in the future, but we still must believe we can do something this season, not wait for next."
Benitez will have Fernando Torres (hamstring) and Javier Mascherano (ankle) fit to play, and maintains his own defiant belief that something could still disrupt Manchester United's relentless march toward retaining their crown.
He said: "We have always talked about a twist in the end, maybe United will have problems against Manchester City or Arsenal in their run-in. "We have always known that this season was crucial to our development, but also that we must continue to have a positive approach to everything.
"It has been good experience. But whatever people are saying about this season and our chances, we must maintain our concentration right to the end and stay focused in every game. "We have confidence we will be the closest challengers to United over the next few years. "But we have always felt we could win it this season, we have confidence in our squad and they have worked so hard. I hope I am answering in a different way in a fortnight, but we have gained a lot of experience whatever happens."
Benitez paid tribute to the job Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola has done in his first management job. He says: "West Ham will be difficult. Zola is doing a good job, they are confident and playing well. "Zola was a fantastic player and now he is showing he can be a fine manager, he is doing a good job there.
"It was a little difficult for him at the start, it always is when a new manager takes over. But he is clever, he knows the league and what to do, he will make a good manager. "But we know we have to win. A point is not good enough so the message is very clear to my players, win and increase the pressure ahead of United's game on Sunday."
