Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is determined his team will still be top of the Barclays Premier League when they return to Champions League action in February.

Benitez is likely to agree a new contract soon, maybe even by the end of the week after Reds chief executive Rick Parry met with his representatives in Madrid yesterday, it was encouraging that many of his tactical and selection decisions were vindicated in the convincing 3-1 win against PSV Eindhoven.

It was a night in Holland which saw Liverpool win their Champions League group and justify Benitez's faith in his supporting cast, who were on cruise control at the end against a deflated PSV who failed even to qualify for the UEFA Cup.

Benitez is believed to be happy with an offer from the American owners of three more years to add to the 18 months he has remaining on his current contract, keeping him in control until 2013.

But for the moment the Spaniard will be looking forward to two-and-a-half months of Premier League action which could make or break their bid to win the title for the first time in 18 years.
With no European matches to worry about before the last-16 phase begins in late January, and only the FA Cup as a distraction, Benitez and his squad can focus on their main aim - the title race.

Liverpool have 10 league games in that time, starting at home to Hull on Saturday, and the former Valencia manager has every intention of seeing his side still top before European football comes around again.

He said: "We now have almost three months to concentrate on the Premier League, and the FA Cup. We would want to go back into Europe next year still top of the table.

"We have qualified for the next stage in Europe, we are top of the Premier League, and now we concentrate on domestic considerations. We do not want to give up top spot, if we are still there when we start up again in Europe, the chances of a really good season will be obvious."

Benitez was delighted to see youngsters Lucas and David Ngog produce telling performances, along with the misfiring Robbie Keane.

Having had the club's youth structure also thrust under the microscope, Benitez was more than happy to sing the praises, too, of local boys Stephen Darby, Jay Spearing and Martin Kelly who made their European debuts.

Kelly, a strapping central defender from Bolton, Spearing a busy midfielder from Wirral and Liverpudlian full-back Darby all stepped up to the plate.

As did Lucas, booed recently by the Anfield crowd, and striker Ngog. Keane, too, had a more than decent game.

Benitez said: "I was so pleased to be able to give three local lads their debuts in the Champions League, it is something I have been wanting to do because we do have good young players coming through.

"Myself and the staff, as well as his team-mates, know that Lucas is a very good player.

"He showed that he has character and quality. With Ngog he has a very bright future at Liverpool. They have not played too many games for the club, but they showed with good performances that they have futures with Liverpool.

"In a few months you can see the progress they have made, and in a few months they will still be improving.

"Maybe Lucas has been spurred on by some of the criticism. But this week he has shown he is a good professional and his reaction to questions about his form and the reaction to him from some fans recently, has been very good."

Benitez added: "I have been impressed. But for the people at the club who work with him, this has not been a surprise. He can pass the ball, he can work really well and he has a great future at this club.

"He supported the front players, he went forward well and he did a great job from midfield.

"It is always good to see young players get their chances in the first-team. Especially in Europe.

"Things are improving. A few years back when we had already qualified like this season, we played Galatasaray in Istanbul and we used young players and lost.

"It shows our improvement that we have used young players this time in the same situation, and we have won.

"It is good to bring players through, whether from the academy or when we have signed them from abroad.

"It was good not to have to bring on Steven Gerrard from the bench to win us a game. It has been good to give a opportunity to these boys, I could not be happier with them."