Every week is important, says under-fire Benitez

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez accepts it is "win at all costs" for the remainder of their season but he is not placing any special significance on the week ahead.

They have just nine matches remaining in the Premier League - the first of which is tonight at home to Portsmouth - and they cannot afford any more slip-ups.

Liverpool are four points adrift of fourth place having played more matches than any of the rest of the contenders.

There is also a tricky Europa League last-16 second leg to negotiate against Lille at Anfield, where a 1-0 deficit has to be overcome, before they head to Old Trafford on Sunday to play arch-rivals Manchester United.

Without positive results from those three fixtures Liverpool's season could be in tatters.

Benitez feels there is no time to look at the finer points of his side's performances - of which there have been few in the last month - as the accumulation of points is all that matters now.

"It is important to win - if you can play well it will be easier - but the main thing is to win," said the Reds boss, whose long-term future at the club was again the subject of more speculation yesterday with suggestions he will quit or be sacked this summer.

"Every week is important for a top side. Now we are in a position where we have to think about the Europa League or to be in the top four.

"If we are in a better position (by the end of next Sunday) it will be an important week, if we are in a worse position it will still be an important week anyway."

Despite Monday night matches, of which this is the second in succession, meaning Liverpool are always playing catch-up on their other top-four rivals, Benitez claims he and his squad do not pay much attention to the league table.

"The players know every week things can change. It is not helpful to our cause. It is important to concentrate on our next game," said the Spaniard.

"Normally we don't see the table too much so we try to concentrate just on the next game."