 Benitez will be out to avenge his side's 3-0 derby defeat at Goodison earlier in the season |
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has warned his side to avoid being distracted by any talk of the title ahead of the derby against Everton. The Reds are five points behind Chelsea, in second, and 11 behind top-flight leaders Manchester United.
"It is a long race," said Benitez. "But if you get close and people start talking about titles, that is when you make mistakes.
"We must only concentrate on the next three points."
Benitez believes the Merseysiders are more of a match for the top two this season and wants his players not to let their hearts rule their heads in the heated atmosphere of facing their local rivals.
 | We have improved a lot in terms of confidence since that defeat at Goodison in September |
Liverpool will be especially keen to beat Everton after they were beaten 3-0 in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
"As a manager you must try to be calm, to do the same things and to control the players," he said.
"Some of them, maybe the local ones, want to win in the first minute, but you need time and to have your brain working. You know better than me, I do not have to say which players!"
He added: "Two years ago we were not close to the top two. Last season we were a lot closer and now we are even closer.
"So we must keep winning to the end and see how close we get, that is what we are trying to do."
606 DEBATE: Your views on the Liverpool derby
Everton boss David Moyes insists his side will be underdogs for the games but hopes his side can earn a shock win and raise their confidence as they challenge for a place in Europe.
| We have beaten them once this season and want to make it twice |
"Liverpool are expected to beat us because of their spending and the players they have available, so it is a rarity when we win," he said.
"But I want to change that situation, I want us to win more games and get closer to Liverpool."
He added: "We will be doing everything we can to get close to Liverpool.
"But they are in a rich vein of form now, the form in fact that many people were expecting them to produce right from the start of the season when they were being tipped as championship contenders.
"We all said they were a good team, and now they are slipping into their best form.
"But we tend to do well against the better teams and we hope that happens this time.
"We are not kidding anyone, we know it will be tough. But we have beaten them once this season and want to make it twice.
"If we win it, it will make a big difference to our confidence. That would help us in the run-in to the end of the season."
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