Benitez eyes cup chance

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Benitez leads his side into Saturday's FA Cup fifth round clash with Barnsley before Inter Milan arrive at Anfield just three days later for a crucial Champions League showdown.

Benitez said: "Your aim is to win every trophy but sometimes you have to be realistic and sometimes you cannot. A lot of teams have the same problem. We have not won the league for 18 years and I have been here for three."

He added: "We will try to win every game in the league to try to finish in the top four. But we know we also have a big chance in both of the cups and we will be taking them seriously."

Benitez was buoyed by last weekend's gutsy draw at Chelsea but will need to reshuffle his defence in search of another clean sheet as Martin Skrtel is ruled out with a calf injury.

Fernando Torres, Sami Hyypia, Fabio Aurelio and Alvaro Arbeloa are all available again but present varying degrees of risk and Benitez is likely to rest all four of them with an eye on the Inter clash.

"All of them will be fit, but the question for me is whether it is a risk I need to take, or do I have other players who can play in those positions?" added Benitez.

Meanwhile Benitez insists he is edging closer to completing the permanent signing of Javier Mascherano despite fresh reports linking the Argentinian with a move elsewhere.

Mascherano had expected his move to be wrapped up by the end of last week but with the situation still ongoing, Spanish daily Marca now claims the player has been offered to Barcelona.

Benitez said yesterday: "We are closer than we were one week ago but I don't know how close."