There would be no better way of underlining that growing confidence than by deflating leaders Chelsea at Anfield on New Year’s Day.

But manager Benitez believes such talk could leave Liverpool embarrassed if they fail to see off second-from-bottom Southampton at Anfield tomorrow.

Once before this season Liverpool were counting the points before they had been secured and were left with egg on their faces after Portsmouth drew in injury-time on Merseyside earlier this month.

Benitez is determined such an attitude will not damage them again.

“I am not thinking about playing Chelsea yet. We have a difficult home game with Southampton first,” he said.

“We must make sure we get the right result in that match first before turning our attention to Chelsea.

“We had a bad experience here recently when people were talking about having a game in hand.

“They were talking about the future but we only drew that one with Portsmouth while everyone was thinking about three more points.

“We have to be cautious in what we say. We must not forget that whoever we play we must respect them and concentrate only on the performance.”

Southampton have not won under new boss Harry Redknapp – they have not won in six matches – and are without victory in 11 away games.

But Benitez, whose side have lost just one in eight, knows Liverpool dare not take the Hampshire side lightly.

He says: “We are in the middle of a programme of four league games in nine days all of which are very important. It can be 12 very quick points and we are aiming to win all four.

“We have just beaten Newcastle and now West Brom so we have more confidence but we have to respect our opponents, wherever they are in the table.”

The 5-0 mauling of West Brom has set Liverpool up nicely for the visit of the Saints but they are still six points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, who show no signs of faltering, so the Anfield side know they cannot afford any slip-ups.

Benitez is also wary of teams with newly-appointed managers – despite the trouncing of Albion so soon after Bryan Robson’s appointment.

The Spanish coach said: “When you see a team losing games and they then change the manager there is a need for a quick reaction and if they do not get that they lose even more confidence.

“Southampton have good players. We know we must not make mistakes because we will be punished but we do believe we will have chances to win the game.

“Sometimes it is dangerous to play against a side who have just changed their manager. Sure, a team has to try to understand the ideas of the new man but it can also mean they will be more determined to do well because of that.”

Liverpool expect to have Harry Kewell and Neil Mellor back in their squad.

The pair missed the win at West Brom with a groin strain and tonsilitis respectively, while Spanish duo Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia are expected to start after substitute appearances at the Hawthorns.