It has been virtually assured already, but victory at Ewood Park on Sunday in what will be a demanding examination by an equally-ambitious Blackbrn will finally clinch at least third spot.

That will guarantee around £9m of Premiership placement prize money.

A predicted straightforward Champions League third-round qualifying tie in August - with Liverpool sure to be top seeds – will ensure another £10m from UEFA’s pot when they reach the group stages.

All that will be added to Benitez’s already healthy transfer fund and give him the muscle to attract half a dozen new faces to Anfield.

Benitez has been linked with around 20 players already in the past fortnight alone – from Raul to Ronaldo to Riggott, plus Darren Bent and Craig Bellamy and a clutch of Spanish and Argentinians thrown into the equation.

But the Spaniard said: “I have not spoken to any player yet and I find it amazing to see so many names linked day after day.”

However, Benitez confirmed he is working hard to settle deals quickly, adding: “We have been working from February 1, when the last transfer window closed, and it would be better to get who we want before the World Cup starts.

“I would like to sign players before the World Cup, if you can do that it may well be cheaper, and it would be better if players were here for pre-season training straight after the World Cup.

“We would hope to do things before the tournament, we have our targets, but if not then we will have to wait.

“There is not much you can learn from the World Cup you do not already know. And you do find that players there who are really motivated for the World Cup but afterwards they may have used up all their energy and will not be as good again.”

When Champions League qualification does finally arrive – and only Liverpool finishing fourth and Arsenal winning the Champions League to take that slot can now stop Benitez’s men – it will be the fifth time in six seasons the Reds have made it, having previously been out of the big time for 16 years.

Benitez added: “It is important for the manager to be able to say to players they want to sign that they will be playing in the Champions League.

“The agents are clever, as are the players. They know what is important and we will be in a very good position to talk to players if we are able to say the Champions League is certain.”

Liverpool still have an outside chance of finishing second, but Manchester United are unlikely to be caught now.

“If we finish second it will be fantastic, but very difficult,” Benitez added. “At the moment I am not thinking about statistics, only that we finish the season well.”