Rafael Benitez insists Liverpool can still qualify for next season’s Champions League despite slipping to seventh in the table.
Liverpool, without a league win since Boxing Day, were beaten 1-0 at West Ham on Wednesday evening and are now three points behind fourth-placed Everton and a point behind both Aston Villa Manchester City.
“Yes, Champions League [is still possible],” he said after the game.
“Did we deserve to lose? I think we deserved to win. We must think about how to improve, and how to win games.”
When asked if he believes he will be given the time by Liverpool’s owners to turn it around, he said: “I am a football manager, so I have experience. We will improve – because we can improve.”
The defeat continued a poor run of form for Liverpool, with the Reds now 17 points off the leaders Manchester United, and only four points ahead of 10th-placed West Ham after Wednesday’s defeat.
“I’m thinking just about the next game and I will try to win the next three points against Sunderland,” Benitez added.
“Our next game is more realistic to think about.”
And when asked if the American owners of Liverpool will be analysing the game, he said: “I don’t know if they have a TV.
“Everything is behind (us), and we will start thinking about winning games.”
