Liverpool had already been dumped out of the Champions League and the Carling Cup before further humiliation came their way in midweek when they sensationally lost to Reading at home in the FA Cup.

Ahead of Saturday's crunch clash with Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium, Benitez, who knows that only a top four finish in the Barclays Premier League will now save his job, has however insisted that even Anfield legend Bill Shankly failed to win a trophy between 1966 and 1973 - something the Merseyside giant's "proper" fans are fully aware of.

"Clearly I want to fight," Benitez told the Daily Mirror newspaper with his charges occupying seventh spot in England's top-flight - some five points off fourth place.

."If I signed a contract for five years it is because I want to fight. And I will fight because I'm a fighter.

"Our fans, they are very clever. They know Bill Shankly, our most famous manager in the history of the club, was a lot of years without winning. They know that the club has had good moments and bad moments.

"The proper fans, they know for years this club is a massive club and that we have won things and lost things. We are frustrated because we want to do well. Because the last year was so good, we wanted to be closer.

"I have to believe we can finish in the top four. I have the belief that we can do it, but we have to win the next game and that is what I am concentrating on.

"I have said before that top four is the target, but I have changed a little bit the message. We cannot be talking about long term, we have to be talking about the next game.

"To be as close as possible to the top four, we have to win against Stoke. If we win against Stoke and Tottenham, we will be closer."

"We know we are not doing well and that we have to improve. We are disappointed after the game the other day and we have to be disappointed, but my message is very clear - I have to prepare for the next game against Stoke. That is our most important game."

Benitez arrived from Valencia six years ago, and his reign has seen Liverpool win the FA Cup, as well as the Champions League in 2005.

Nevertheless, and despite the relative success they have witnessed, Reds fans remain desperate for their heroes to win the Premier League, a reality that the Spaniard is all too aware of.

"Who has won the league in the last years?" he said.

"And who has won the Champions League? And who has won the FA Cup? Who has won the Carling Cup?

"If you analyse who has won in the past, that is reality and against this reality, Liverpool have won four trophies, got to seven finals, got 82 points and 87 points.

"We were doing well for years. We have good memories of the last year when we were scoring a lot of goals. Two years ago, we scored 119 goals. All these good memories now maybe are against us now because we're not playing at the level we can.

"I said before and I say now, we are progressing. We are in a bad moment. We are not doing well and we have to improve.

"Every club has problems. Sometimes, the period you have the problems is longer, but we will try our best from now."

you'll never walk alone?

For babel case, my view, Rafa should only choose 1 option aka either you play him or sell him. No point don't want to sell and don't want to play him. In my opinion, it is bad man-management, players will lose trust one if being treated like this, remember they are not kids but adult that earn GBP 20-50K per week, or GBP 100K per month.

Rafa keep on comment don't want to sell Babel, but don't want to play him either. So what the point let him in the team, waste money for the club only by paying his wages.

He doesnt want to sell because reports claim that he dont have the money generated back .He doesn't want to play him because he want a healthy, fit Babel and I assume that's for a swap? 

He doesnt want to sell because reports claim that he dont have the money generated back .He doesn't want to play him because he want a healthy, fit Babel and I assume that's for a swap? 

just had a funny thought...

putting salary and budget to spend on players aside...

IF Jose goes to

Man United: he'll be replacing a very very successful manager.  carry on the tradition, and they'll say `Well, he is doing the job.  Carrying on what Fergie did for us...(not very exciting isnt it).  But if he fails...knives will be out..and forever he will live under the shadow of Fergie

Arsenal: First barrier is type of football.  I think the flowing football will go.  And that probably means a revamp of players (apparent Arsene buy players to suit this fast passing game).  IF he succeeds, he will be revered. If he fails, again, he will live under the shadow of Arsene

Liverpool: hahaha...tradition, great fan base...underfire, not winning anything for so long....our football is already bad and lifeless so we wont be upset if Mournho choose a very compact and predictable type of football (as long as we're winning)... IF he fails, people will say `Even Jose Mourinho cant save liverpool' rather than Jose sucks.....But if he is successful....the fans will queue up to adore him..hahahaha

so if Jose wants to cross the English Channel, it looks like Liverpool maybe the safest bet...hahah

that is because Arsene and fergie already plied their trademark in Arsenal and Man Utd respectively. Last season i admired Liverpool fast counter attack and pressing game. During Chelsea reign under mourinho, boredom often struck me whenever i watch Chelsea matches. not all but most of them. i hope if Mourinho took over Liverpool, i won't be affected by boredom.

Dont Sell BABEL just Sell RAFA to juve..

report juve want him... the prob is the manager not the player