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LIVERPOOL FC: BENITEZ KEEN TO END UNITED JINX

Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool are now better equipped than at any other point in his tenure to go to Old Trafford and end a barren run of results against the Barclays Premier League champions.

/noticias.info/ The Reds boss is convinced his side have enough match-winners to make a difference when they go head-to-head with one of their fiercest rivals and is confident his team can also go there and smash through the 100-goal barrier for the season.

"I have a lot of confidence in this squad," said Rafa.

"We have a young squad with a lot of good players, and in the future this team will be better and we can compete with anyone.

"We have scored 99 goals this season. We have to watch videos of what we have achieved this season and go to Old Trafford with a lot of confidence. If you see our games against United, there hasn't been a big difference. It's been two or three things like corners or free-kicks.

"We have the belief to go there and win. We are in a good moment now and we have more confidence and more players that can change the game.

"Compared to the last two years, we have more confidence that we can beat United. Even more than last season."

A seven-match winning streak in which the Reds have plundered no fewer than 18 goals is a major factor behind Benitez's quiet confidence.

With the likes of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard in irrepressible form he feels the Reds now have more to offer when they face the likes of United, Arsenal and Chelsea, and is hoping the free-scoring duo can make the difference when the sides meet on Sunday.

"We are better equipped now than before," continued the Reds boss.

"We have some good players now who can change the game, the likes of Torres, Gerrard, Babel, Kuyt and Xabi Alonso, players who can score goals.

"Our position is better now. In the past, you could have a plan going to Old Trafford and do certain things, but in the end you didn't have enough power. Now I think that is different.

"They have Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez, all match-winners, but now we have two or three players who can do the same.

"In these kind of games, sometimes the tactics aren't the difference. With so many top class players on the pitch, the players are the difference."

Throughout the 1990s Manchester United's dominance of the league was synonymous with the midfield influence of Roy Keane.

The Republic of Ireland international was a natural leader who had the type of big game mentality required to win titles - characteristics Benitez believes he has found in Javier Mascherano.

"Javier could be like Roy Keane," he said.

"He is the same kind of player, a player with strong character, a leader. When you play in a foreign country, the language is always important, and Mascherano can get better with that and improve as a player.

"His work-rate is fantastic and it gives freedom to other players, it allows Torres and Gerrard to go forward because Mascherano is working so hard in defence.

"I don't know how interested United were in him last January. But talking to Javier, he was really pleased to come here, and that was the only thing for me.

"United have signed two or three players in his position, sometimes paying more money than we did for Mascherano.

"Mascherano has a fantastic mentality and is a good professional, and he can be a key player for us over the next few years." notas_de_prensa_archivo