Rafael Benitez is confident Liverpool Football Club are on the way up.

A troubled first half of the season has seen the Reds crash out of the UEFA Champions League, whilst they have long been out of the running for the Premier League title.

However, a place in the top four is certainly not beyond them after an upturn in results recently, and Benitez believes the second half of the campaign can be a successful one.

“We had another clean sheet last week, and that is a positive,” said the Spaniard. “The players know we are improving. We are doing much better in defence.

“But we have to improve in attack. If Steven Gerrard is fitter he will play better and that makes a massive difference. And without the transfer speculation over Ryan Babel, it will be easier.”

Next up for the Anfield club is the derby clash with Everton, when a win would certainly set them up for the business end of a difficult campaign.

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