BOSS: LET'S KEEP IT GOING

Jimmy Rice 06 April 2007 Rafa Benitez has urged his players to use their Champions League momentum to secure third place in the Premiership.

Liverpool face Reading this weekend, with three points vital in the race against Arsenal for third spot. "We know Reading is important," said Benitez. "Players need to understand that it is as important to finish third as it is to reach the Champions League last four. "To be third we must win the majority of games between now and the end of the season. We can change players, but the priority is that we win at Reading. It means it will be a strong side. "I do not want another performance like we had at Aston Villa recently, that was a bad game and a bad day. "We now need to keep the momentum going. I do not know if the players think about what they have heard about the money for transfers in the summer, it could be an incentive." Benitez believes his players - particularly captain Steven Gerrard - are reaching top form at just the right time. "Steven is doing well. The problems we had at the beginning of the season because of the World Cup were clear. "The World Cup was a big problem for several players when they returned to their clubs. "They were not able to do the right training, and that explained why we started our season so slowly. "Now we have time between matches to train and prepare, that is the reason they are all in a better situation. "The team is in a very good moment now, we are playing well, scoring goals and maybe some players have more confidence because we are closer to the Champions League semi-final. It is a good moment for them."