Benítez Unfazed By City Threat

Rafael Benítez insists that Liverpool must meet the challenge of mega-rich clubs such as Manchester City head-on if they want to retain their place in the top four. The Anfield manager takes his unbeaten side to Eastlands tomorrow to face City - labeled the richest club in the world since their recent takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group - in the Premier League.

Benítez had warned City that their wealth might cause them problems and ruled out any prospect of his captain, Steven Gerrard, ever being interested in a move there. However, he knows that Liverpool must continue to improve themselves to ward off the threat from the Manchester club to their top-four status.

"In the future you never know how dangerous City's potential will be," he said. "The one thing we can do is to think about ourselves and try to improve our squad and players for this season and the future. Every year you hear about the possible challenges from Aston Villa, Newcastle, West Ham. Now it is City. All that means is that we have to do our job right to keep ahead of them all. It depends on your own team and to sign the players you need to maintain your own improvement."

City's new owners hinted they wanted Gerrard when they took over the club but Benítez said: "I do not want to talk about the size of any club in relation to us. Gerrard is a local player and this is his club. He is a key player for us and he is happy here. We are improving every year and he knows that we can win trophies. That is the most important thing.

"You never know about other players; they are professionals and this is football. But Gerrard is playing well and if we are improving he will be very, very happy here. The key is that he wants to stay here, that is the most important thing. It is not a question of money."