Family comes first for Benitez

RAFAEL BENITEZ insists he is not obsessed with football and that family comes first. However, the Liverpool manager is intent on getting their campaign back on track following the international break.

They face a crucial test on Saturday against a Manchester City side with designs on the top four.

Benitez, who has been accused of being too wrapped up in the game, said: “I would say 80% of my time I talk about football or things related to football, it’s my life.

“I have to do it with different people, but analysing every small detail every hour every day... no. The main thing for any manager is his family. People read things that maybe are not 100% true. Most of my time, I think about football and I talk to the players about it.

“They are too young and I am too old, so I cannot talk about music or stuff like that with them!”

Benitez has strongly defended his management style. He said: “You cannot win trophies if you are cautious. I have won titles not because I am cautious, but because I have a clear idea of what to do.

“Sometimes we attack, sometimes we wait, sometimes we counter-attack. Two seasons ago, we scored 119 goals, more than any other team, so we are an attacking team.

“Last season we scored 77, nine more than Manchester United who won the league, so we are an attacking team. You need balance. If you don’t concede too many because you are well-organised, people say you are defensive.”

Asked if Liverpool are more attack-minded this season, he said: “We are more or less doing the same, we’re offensive and scoring goals. People think we are more offensive because Glen Johnson is an attacking full-back.

“But the attempts on goal last year and this are similar. The difference is accuracy. We are scoring more goals this year because we are more precise.”

Benitez is confident of having Gerrard, Johnson (hamstring) and Daniel Agger (back) fit to face City after injury but not Fernando Torres.

Skipper Gerrard is confident offacing City following a nagging groin injury. The England midfielder could start after coming off the bench in the draw with Birmingham.

Gerrard said: “I felt very tired after the game as I wasn’t really ready to return. It took me two or three days to recover from that game but I have spent the past week doing strengthening work.

“I’m feeling a lot better now.”