Rafa looks for big game wins

Rafa Benitez has said that a victory over big teams such as Man Utd or Arsenal is more morale boosting than simply picking up three points. Liverpool are on a surge of good form and are pushing Arsenal at the top.

He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "More important than the points is the confidence you could get from winning.

“If you can beat United or Arsenal, the confidence the team gets can be really important."

On losing in last season’s corresponding fixture due to injury-time goal by John O'Shea after having dominated the game, the Spaniard said: "We were much better than them during the game. If it was a draw you could say, 'Okay, we were better but we couldn't score.'

"To concede in the last minute was the worst thing. It was a very bad moment for us.

"To lose any game is something which is disappointing for you and your players. But against a top side, especially United, and considering how everything was, it was really disappointing.

"Now we have more confidence that we can beat them, and playing at Anfield will also be important. We have respect for them because they are a team with experience but we have confidence in ourselves."