Benitez: We can beat anyone in Europe

Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool are slowly beginning to fulfil the potential he saw at the club when he took over just nine months ago.

The hugely impressive Champions League victory over Juventus, one of Europe’s finest sides, reinforced the Spaniard’s belief his patched-up, injury-ravaged squad are starting to reach the standards he demands.

The 2-1 victory over Juve, who had conceded just two goals in eight previous Champions League games this season, reminded Europe of the Liverpool they thought had been consigned to history.

Benitez’ challenge now is to inspire such performances on a consistent basis, starting on Saturday at Manchester City in a Barclays Premiership clash which is crucial to qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Winning this season’s tournament is still unlikely as they face a daunting second leg in Turin next Wednesday, but Benitez can see the improvement at Anfield regardless of what happens at the Stadio Delle Alpi.

He said: “We have just beaten one of the best teams in the world, of course I am happy with the way we played.

“We have played like this against Arsenal, Deportivo (La Coruna), Olympiacos and now Juventus. I think it is showing we can play at this level more and more, but I would still like us to produce such a high level for 90 minutes, not 45 or 60.

“We can beat anyone in Europe. If we can beat a side like Juventus then anything is possible because they are one of the very, very best clubs.

“We talk of how we beat Olympiacos and Arsenal playing in this high tempo way, then we know we can do it against anyone.

“This will give us confidence that we can do the same in the Premier League, that we can beat anyone. I hope that is the case.”

Benitez could have Jerzy Dudek, Fernando Morientes and Mauricio Pellegrino available for the trip to Eastlands.

Liverpool have won three important games in 17 days, beating Everton, Bolton and now Juventus to put themselves in high confidence for the clash against Stuart Pearce’s side.

Benitez added: “Our idea is to play at this same level in all our games and I believe we are closer than before to that standard. We are also closer to Everton now and we must continue in the same way playing with this high tempo and with the same mentality.

“We have produced a good Champions League tournament, the question is if you don’t win the trophy people keep reminding you of when the club were able to do that.

“I understand, but I look at what has been achieved this season and I am happy with the progress. I can only say that we will try with everything we have to give this club a good position in Europe again.

“We are more consistent now than what we were earlier in the season, but you saw even in this match two different levels. Now we have time for the players to recover for Saturday, maybe we will use some different players, but I hope we will approach the Manchester City game with the attitude as we played Juventus.

“We need to do the same again to get even closer to Everton.”

If Liverpool’s Champions League adventure does end in Turin, the club have still established themselves at the highest level this season.

Wins over last season’s finalist Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen twice, Olympiacos, Deportivo and now Juventus have illustrated Benitez’s clever tactics, which have at times been missing in domestic competition.

Scott Carson’s mistake allowed Fabio Cannavaro to grab a crucial away goal to get Juve back in the game at Anfield last night after Sami Hyypia and Luis Garcia scored for the hosts.

But Benitez, despite conceding an away goal, still believes his evolving side can survive in Turin against a side who have managed 22 clean sheets in 42 games this season and have lost only once at home this term.

He added: “I hope we can score in Turin and then the poor goal we conceded in the second half will not be important. Such goals, though, are invariably important in competitions as big as this so we must make sure that our overall play in the second game is like it was for the first half at Anfield.

“I am confident we can get through. If we play at our best, doing what we saw in the first half and we can score a goal, they will then be afraid.

“They will have to score more goals and that will mean them attacking with more players and leaving gaps.”