Qualifying will silence unjust critics, says Rafa

RAFAEL BENITEZ will allow himself a quiet smile of satisfaction if Liverpool complete a demanding four-month journey to the far corners of Europe by reaching the last 16 of the Champions League.

A point from the home clash with Real Betis - Liverpool’s 12th match in a competition which for them began in early July - will see the defending champions qualify for the last 16 for the third time in five seasons.

It would also see them through with a game to spare and silence the critics who have sniped at Liverpool’s inconsistent form this season, and those who still consider them lucky to have won last season’s trophy.

Benitez’s side faced a final group match with Olympiakos last season, needing victory by a two-goal margin to qualify.

He now says: “For us to be in the last 16 would be fantastic, amazing because we will have done better than last season even after playing a lot of games and starting in the tournament four months ago.

“People still talk about us being lucky to have won the European Cup. But when we beat Bayer Leverkusen, then Juventus, Chelsea and Milan we were surely not lucky.

“If you beat one of those teams it can be luck, but to beat all four, that is not luck. It showed we played a very good Champions League last season, we went to the final because we deserved it.”

Betis will be no pushovers, even though their domestic form has seen them plunge to second from bottom in the Primera Liga.

Victory over Chelsea last month underlined their threat.

And should Betis win at Anfield they have a great chance of getting to the last 16 themselves. They would then have a final match at home to bottom club Anderlecht, while Liverpool would have to go to Chelsea and avoid defeat.

Benitez, who has injury doubts over Luis Garcia and Xabi Alonso, warns: “We are not relaxed, we know our responsibility and that this will be a hard game.

“It is important we get through and then that will help us with our confidence in the Premier League.

“It is a dangerous situation for us, but more so for them because they need to win. A draw is no good for them.

“We must do our best in front of our own supporters, and we want to secure top spot. But you never know whether that is good or bad, you do not really know who is going to finish second in other groups, they could be more difficult than a group winner.

“But needing just one point is a lot better than last season when we had to beat Olympiakos and in the end to score three to get through.

“That was an amazing night at Anfield, now we hope to go through and play as well again.”

Four successive wins with no goals conceded sees Liverpool high on confidence, Benitez saying: “We are winning more games now in the league, as well as the Champions League.

“The team is stronger, playing well and scoring and that gives us confidence. But we know we must win on the pitch, not just talk about it.

“The most important thing this season is how we have started to play well now in all competitions. We have had good results, but I will always want to see how we play against Betis and then at Manchester City on Saturday. We have to keep going the way we are.”

Betis, who lost a torrid local derby with Seville on Saturday which produced 14 yellow and two red cards - plus their boss Llorenc Serra Ferrer in trouble for kicking a Seville official - certainly concern Benitez.

He said: “They will play knowing they need to win, their last option to qualify.

“They have lost at Seville which is a big derby for them, so maybe their confidence will not be high, but they still know this is their last chance and I am sure they will raise themselves.

“But I believe this game is more difficult for Betis, this is their last opportunity, that is why they will be dangerous.

“They have beaten Chelsea, so they are a good team. It is not normal for Betis to be in the bottom two of La Liga, I think that is because they are under so much pressure because of the Champions League.

“They’ve some important players injured, and are worried now about their league position. In Europe they are not so worried.”

Betis have lost striker Ricardo Oliviera - whose goal beat Chelsea - for six months with a knee injury, and will also now be without another frontman, Dani Martin, who was injured against Seville.

Liverpool have conceded only six goals in their last 16 home European games and will have Harry Kewell, Mohamed Sissoko and John Arne Riise back in the squad.