Under fire manager Rafael Benitez hopes that Liverpool will finally start their recovery with a win against Manchester City.

"Maybe we can start the season now. I am 100% sure everything will be totally different if we can win the game against City. "It would be a big boost and the season can be good if we do well," said the Spainard while talking to the BBC.

Liverpool have already lost five games this season, three more than they lost in the entire 2008/2009 campaign. They are currently placed seventh in the league, with leaders Chelsea having opened a massive 11 point lead.

However, Benitez is not giving up. "We have to look at the big picture. We know we've had some problems and we've made some mistakes but still we are so close."

"We have to change some small things that we need to improve on. We talk about the positives and analyse the negatives.Everything will be different if we win two or three in a row. The confidence will be high and everything will be easier."

However, with the Reds beseiged by injuries, putting together a string of wins looks highly unlikely. Their talismanic captain Steven Gerrard is struggling with a groin injury, while ace striker Fernando Torres has a hernia problem. In addition Glen Johnson, Albert Reira, Yossi Benayoun, Daniel Agger and Fabio Aurelio are all suffering from various ailments.

But Benitez is insistent that his side has enough depth to cover for these injuries. "We have a better squad than people think. It's a question of getting some key players back. You could see the other day (in the 2-2 draw with Birmingham) that with Glen Johnson and Steven Gerrard we were creating so many chances. The quality is there."