The Liverpool manager Rafael benitez still thinks that the club will finish in the top four of the Premiership despite losing to bottom-club Portsmouth this weekend.

“We always knew the battle for fourth would be difficult but we know we can play well,” Benitez said.

“We know we have the quality, it’s just a question of belief. When the players have a run of games together we will improve.

“It’s tough when you have just lost and really disappointing, but if you analyse the game against Portsmouth carefully in the first half we had plenty of possession and were in control of the game.

“We started the game with real intensity but made a mistake for their first goal and paid for it. We have to defend better.”

“With only 10 players in the second half it was always going to be difficult.

“We had to go forward and leave spaces which meant they could play on the counter attack. It was really difficult for us.

“We were making some mistakes with our passing and were anxious.

“Everybody has to be disappointed but we have to stick together and be ready for the next game. We must try to get three points and see what happens after that.”

Liverpool have already dropped 27 points this season, compared to 28 in the whole of last season. How much longer can Benitez keep deluding himself?