Rafa Benitez believes team is close to finished article

Last updated : 04 September 2007 By Daily Post

The Anfield side shot to the top of the Premier League for the first time in five years with a 6-0 thumping of Derby County on Saturday.

It made it 10 goals inside five days with Benitez's side already having racked up an impressive 16 goals in six games so far this campaign.

And the Spaniard reckons Liverpool's plethora of attacking options are making it easier for them to kill off stubborn opposition.

"I am pleased now because the team are scoring, we are not losing or conceding goals and that is all very positive for us," said Benitez.

"We are different from last season. We are able to finish teams off, we can score the first and then the second, and the game is over. It is different to some of the games last season.

"The work rate of the team is so good, Kuyt did not score against Derby but his effort and running was fantastic. Torres, Voronin too, I was really pleased with them all."

Nine of Liverpool's goals have been netted by their forwards, with summer signings Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin scoring three times, Dirk Kuyt twice and Peter Crouch once.

And with all four competing for the two places in attack, Benitez believes the strikers are reaping the benefits of his rotation policy.

"All of them know what we want, their movement is good and I am sure it will improve even more over the coming weeks," said the Anfield manager. "Now we have four players with quality and different skills. I can now manage in a different way because you know all of them can score goals.

"You cannot say that Torres will score more goals that Kuyt, Voronin or Crouch. They can all score and they are all equal.

"They will not be happy to not be involved, but we will want them to be ready for the next game, the next one and the next one.

"Every player has different qualities, and their are difficult choices, but they are problems I want to have."

Benitez also reckons the wing play of Ryan Babel and in particular Jermaine Pennant is a contributing factor to Liverpool's free-scoring start to the campaign.

"We have tried to find wingers for three years, but now we seem to have a couple in Pennant and Babel. They can both work well out wide. Jermaine has a better mentality now.

"He can play down both wings, he has more determination to attack defenders. Babel has pace and ability, we are better now in the wide areas than last season."

Liverpool will be in constant contact with England as Steven Gerrard joins up with the squad today ahead of the Euro 2008 qualifying double header against Israel and Russia.

Gerrard has been out for a fortnight with a broken toe, but England coach Steve McClaren is desperate for the midfielder to be available with Frank Lampard sidelined.

However, Benitez does not want any risks taken with his captain and is against Gerrard having a pain-killing injection to play.

Meanwhile Liverpool midfielder Anthony Le Tallec has gone on a season-long loan to French side Le Mans.