Rafa calls for United repeat

Rafael Benitez today called on his players to serve up a repeat of their performance against Manchester United last month when Liverpool cross swords with Manchester City at Anfield on Saturday.

The Reds are looking to halt a run of one win in nine matches, though that victory came against United in October as goals from Fernando Torres and David Ngog secured a fully-deserved triumph in front of the Kop.
 
Benitez is eager for a similar display when Mark Hughes' City arrive on Merseyside.
 
"We have to do our job, play well and if we play at the same level we can beat anyone," the boss told his weekly press conference at Melwood.
 
"If we can beat United by playing well, I think we can do it against City."
 
The game with the Citizens kicks-off an important week of fixtures for Liverpool, with trips to Debrecen and Everton to follow.
 
"It is an important week, but at our club every week is always important," said Benitez.
 
"Hopefully in April we will be talking about another important week and it will mean we are playing for something.
 
"The first thing we have to do is try to win against City and then afterwards concentrate on Debrecen and then Everton. We will take things one step at a time."
 
City will travel to Anfield with genuine aspirations of breaking into the top four this season.
 
The Eastlands club currently sit one point and place ahead of Liverpool in the table, but Benitez believes it is too early to be predicting the season's potential outcome.
 
Asked if this match would go some way to deciding which teams will make up the top four come May, the gaffer replied: "It is too early to tell, but it will be an important game for both sides.
 
"Clearly we know things can change every week in football. You have to try and win and wait and see what happens afterwards, but I am not worried about what people say.
 
"I am only worried about what the mood is like in our dressing room and if we play well and win.
 
"We have to approach the game with confidence that we can win. We cannot be thinking about every game and whether it is more or less important than others. This one is the most important for us because it's the next one we have to play."
 
He added: "City are playing well. They are a good team, have good players and a manager with experience, so it will be a tough and important game for us.
 
"Afterwards, we have the Champions League and then Everton and we know every game from now will be important because we want to progress and be higher in the table.
 
"If we can do things well, I am sure we will be in the top four."
 
Meanwhile, Benitez was asked for his views on the controversy surrounding France's decisive goal in their World Cup qualifying playoff with Ireland on Wednesday evening.
 
Quizzed by reporters on whether the use of video technology could have prevented the incident in which Thierry Henry seemingly handled the ball before setting up William Gallas' equaliser, the manager said: "Clearly it was handball. I am always talking about how video technology can maybe help. Everyone could see it was handball and that's it.
 
"To use it (video technology) properly is not easy, but for an incident like this I think it can help 100 per cent.
 
"For the other things such as technical points it will be more difficult, but maybe one day we will find a way."