Title still within reach of Liverpool: Benitez

Rafael Benitez has urged his Liverpool players to put a torrid month behind them after insisting that his stuttering team remains in a strong position to win the Premier League title

Title still within reach of Liverpool: Benitez

Having started January at the top of the table, Liverpool could be five points adrift of Manchester United by the time they entertain Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday.

Benitez's side have drawn their last four league and cup games and their only win during January came when they defeated Championship outfit Preston in the FA Cup.

Yet the Spaniard, whose behaviour has come under close scrutiny in recent weeks, is urging his players to start February with a bang by defeating title rivals Chelsea, whose superior goal differences lifted them above Liverpool into second spot in midweek.

"We know in January we have not won games that we could have won. But the positive news is that January has finished," said Benitez.

"We are eight points better than last season. We are two points from the top. We are in a fantastic position and I'm sure if we beat Chelsea people will talk in a different way. That's football. Again I will say, we are in the best position we've been in for the last 10 or 15 years and we have to enjoy it.

"In August we talked about wanting to be contenders. We were in a fantastic position and people were saying, 'This is your year'. But we are still in the title race. We just have to keep the confidence and if we beat Chelsea, everyone will be saying we have options. If we can't beat them, we just have to keep going because it's a long race."

Saturday's results:
Stoke City 1, Man City 0
Arsenal 0, West Ham 0
Aston Villa 0, Wigan Athletic 0
Bolton Wanderers 3, Tottenham Hotspur 2
Fulham 3, Portsmouth 1
Hull City 2, West Bromwich A 2
M'brough 0, Blackburn Rovers 0

Sunday EPL action:
Newcastle Utd v Sunderland, 18:55, LIVE on ESPN
Liverpool vs Chelsea, 21:25, LIVE on ESPN

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