After a false dawn last season, in which record signing Fernando Torres proved to be a spectacularly successful summer transfer, Benitez believes his team are edging closer to ending their drought.

"Winning the title would be the biggest achievement of my career," said Benitez, who won the Champions League in 2005 - his first season in English football.

The Spaniard continued: "It's more difficult than in Spain because teams here spend big money.

"But we will do our best. The key for me is not to talk about winning the title but to talk about doing a good job so we can be close, so we can be contenders.

"If we are close I think that we can win the title."

The Anfield club have not won England's top division since 1990 as rivals Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea have dominated in the subsequent 18 years.