Rafa has sights on end of season flourish

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has urged his players to forget about the bad form that has dogged them through the current campaign and concentrate on ending the season on a high.

Although the Reds look almost certain to miss out on finishing fourth in the Premier League and therefore not qualifying for the Champions League, they are currently preparing for a Europa League semi-final tie against Atletico Madrid.

Bentiez says the prospect of winning silverwear is the perfect medicine to pull his side out of their current slump.

He says, “Everyone knows Liverpool are a top side and one bad season is not going to be changed by winning one or two games at the end.

“Clearly the Europa League will bring some silverware but in terms of the value of the club it is massive so we don’t need to think about one or two games.

“A top side like Liverpool is always thinking about winning trophies. It is not the best season but hopefully we can improve until the end.”

Liverpool face West Ham on Monday night at Anfield, before the first leg of the semi-final against Atletico in Spain on Thursday night.