By Rob Carragher Last updated: 13th December 2008
Benitez: High hopes
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez believes that his side will be odds-on to take the Premier League title if they can remain on top through the Christmas schedule.
The Reds currently sit just one point ahead of second-placed Chelsea, but with games against Hull, Newcastle and Bolton on the horizon, Benitez will be desperate to see his players go on and cement that position.
"If we can finish the Christmas period at the top of the table then we will have an 80 per cent possibility of winning the title," said the Spanish tactician, who won two Primera Liga titles during his time with Valencia.
"In the past in the second half of the season we have normally been better, stronger and that is why I think we can win the title. We have some important players not playing now.
"When they are fit they will be a good addition for the second half."
Traditionally, the team that leads at Christmas time rarely goes on to win the Premier League title, but Benitez feels that his side stand well equipped to buck that trend as they are yet to play to their full potential.
"We have a lot of confidence and we think that if we can improve on two or three things then it will be easier to win some games," he added.
"We will have to see in two or three months. If you are doing well everyone has confidence, but if you lose one or two games, then you will see the reaction.
"I am happier to talk about the title now, because a month ago we needed to prove something.
"One month later we are proving to everyone that we can do it. It is always difficult and other teams have bigger squads and a lot of very expensive players, but we have confidence."

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Arsenal |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Birmingham |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Liverpool |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs West Ham |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Birmingham vs Portsmouth |
| 19:45 | Burnley vs Man Utd |
| 19:45 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Tottenham |
| 19:45 | Sunderland vs Chelsea |
| 19:45 | Wigan vs Wolverhampton |
| Wednesday 19th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Liverpool vs Stoke |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Portsmouth |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Everton |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 24th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Blackburn 0 - 0 West Brom | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Man City 1 - 0 Bolton | |
| Sunderland 2 - 3 Chelsea | |
| Fulham 0 - 2 Everton | |
| Arsenal 4 - 1 Stoke | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Wigan 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Liverpool 3 - 1 Tottenham | |
| Monday 18th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 3 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Sunday 17th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| West Brom 0 - 2 Liverpool | |
| Saturday 16th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 0 - 1 Fulham | |
| Bolton 1 - 1 Hull | |
| Stoke 2 - 0 Wigan | |
| Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Tottenham 2 - 1 Man City | |
| Everton 3 - 1 West Ham | |
| Man Utd 0 - 0 Arsenal | |
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