Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool’s 1-0 win at Chelsea has cemented his side’s credentials as potential Premier League winners.
“To win here and stay top of the table unbeaten is a massive message for the other teams,” the Liverpool boss said.
“With the players showing the character they did, it was a big boost for the rest of the season.
“We can go to any stadium and win games,” added Benitez. “Against a very good team, a very offensive team, we showed we were thinking about winning.
“The players know what to do and it is difficult for the opposition to create chances. Chelsea had some chances but their final pass was not the best on occasions.
“My players were really good and all credit to them. When you have players with quality and they work so hard, you have a winning team.”
Liverpool’s win ended Chelsea 86-match unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge and also brought about coach Luiz Felipe Scolari’s first defeat since taking charge of the the club in the summer.
“In the first half we dominated the game and in the second we had more possession of the ball and passed it well until we got near their penalty area,” said Scolari.
“After this we crossed many balls but they had a good defensive line and dealt with every one. We didn’t play as we have done in other games because we didn’t have the space.
“We only had space to cross. This is not the football we play normally. We need to try and play on the ground, not high balls, because I don’t have big strikers.
“I don’t need them to put the ball in the box all the time. But they lost the confidence to touch the ball and were afraid of not changing the result.
“I said to them ‘Look, try to keep on playing but they didn’t listen’.”
