We want no distractions says Rafa

Since beating Chelsea in the Community Shield, Liverpool have become the press' favourites to challenge the Stamford Bridge outfit for the title. Rafael Benitez is pleased his team is being recognised as a genuine threat this season but doesn't want his players distracted by such talk.

"The important thing now is for us to stay calm. We know a lot of people are talking about us as a team who can win the league this season, but we have to just analyse the situation and do all we can to improve and think about the future," he told the club's official website.

"Of course we want to win games and win trophies but this is going to be a long race and we need to be careful because if we say we're going to do this and we're going to do that then it would be wrong. We need to take things one step at a time.

"It's important we keep the players focused and not start thinking we're better than we are at this moment."