RAFA BENITEZ today urged his players to keep faith in their ability – as he challenged them to put a different light on the season by securing back-to-back wins.
The Liverpool manager admitted following Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Arsenal that his squad was suffering from a chronic lack of confidence after a run of just three wins in 15 games.
That sequence has left the campaign teetering on the brink, even though they remain just seven points off fourth spot with the pivotal festive period to come.
Benitez remains insistent Liverpool will achieve their ultimate objective of qualifying for the Champions League next year but, at the same time, he knows a victory against Wigan Athletic tonight at Anfield is absolutely imperative.
But should they take three points off the Latics – then follow up with a win on Saturday at Portsmouth – Benitez is adamant his side will become a different proposition, which is why he will tell them to replicate their recent work at Melwood.
“You see the training sessions and the players are doing really well,” he said. “Every single game is important and we have some players coming back from injury.
"If we can win the next two games, the confidence will be there.
"It could be a massive difference come the end of the week.
“Maybe in two weeks, you will see the change in the league table.
"We will have played a lot of games and hopefully we will have a lot more points.
“I think it is only going to take one or two wins for things to change.
"Why? I see the players every day and they are doing really well.
“These are top class players, they have got experience and when things start to change, it will be easier for everyone to enjoy themselves.
"We have to have the confidence that we can play well, score goals and win the game.”
Javier Mascherano has shaken off the knee problem that forced his substitution against Arsenal and will be fit to take his place in the starting line and Benitez does not envisage making too many alterations this evening.
What he hopes will change, however, is Liverpool’s frustrating recent tendency to throw away leads – something they have done five times in the last eight matches.
“The (Glen Johnson) own goal was a massive difference on Sunday,” Benitez reflected. “You could see some of the players were thinking ‘this might be difficult for us’.
“We have to show people we are better than that. I’m sure if we can score a second goal in a game, we will do that and you will see the confidence improve.
“You also have to remember we played a good (Arsenal) team with three of our players (Steven Gerrard, Fabio Aurelio and Fernando Torres) still not match fit; once they improve, we will be better.”
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