Benitez wants Liverpool cup run

Benitez will send out a strong team against Reading (GETTY IMAGES)

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is well aware of the importance of the FA Cup to the club's season and will send out a strong team to contest tonight's third round replay at home to Reading.

The Spaniard has been embarrassed twice before in the competition, by Burnley and Barnsley, and does not want the Royals to complete the hat-trick of Championship sides producing an upset against him.

Liverpool laboured to a 1-1 draw in the tie at the Madejski Stadium 11 days ago, but with a top-four place the limit of their ambitions in the Premier League the FA Cup represents their best chance of silverware.

"We know the FA Cup is a massive competition, so we want to progress and go forward as much as we can," said Benitez, who won the FA Cup in 2006 against West Ham at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

"Our priority now is one game at a time, so the first one is the most important.

"The FA Cup is a very good option for us to win something this year, so we have to approach the game thinking about winning.

"It would be very special to get to Wembley. We've been to Cardiff, but now we have to think about winning the first game."

Benitez knows Reading will have drawn more confidence from the first tie than his side, who had won back-to-back league matches prior to the encounter.

But he has called on his squad to raise their game to ensure they do not give the Royals a chance at Anfield.

"It was very difficult at Reading. We decided to play with a strong side and it was still difficult," said the Liverpool boss.

"We have to approach the game thinking about winning and not giving them any chances or any confidence that they can do something.

"In the Premier League you have to win but if you can't you say 'unlucky'. But in the cup you have to win.

"The attitude is more important against teams from a lower division. After that you know you have some quality, but attitude is the key.

"I remember (against Barnsley) we were not doing badly. We had some chances and then conceded in the last minute.

"It was unlucky but it's the same situation now because it's a cup competition - you have to win and can't make any mistakes."

Ahead of the game, reports in Spain have suggested Atletico Madrid midfielder Maxi Rodriguez is due to arrive on Merseyside today for a medical as the Argentina international edges closer to a cut-price move.