Rafael Benitez has admitted the Premier League is his top priority and he would see it as a failure if he never returned Liverpool to the top of the English game.

The Reds pushed Manchester United all the way last season and many expected them to be serious title contenders again this term, but after losing five league games already, the Anfield giants are now out available at 40/1 to be crowned champions for the first time since 1990.

It has been claimed that the former Valencia boss, who guided Liverpool to Champions League success in 2005, has put European aspirations before domestic success, but Benitez insists that is not the case.

He told The Times: “Anyone who knows me knows that I want to win every trophy, every game.

“But if you ask me what I prefer, I will say the Premier League.

“If I do not win the title, I’m sure I’d be so disappointed maybe I would have this feeling [of failure].”

Liverpool’s Champions League hopes this season hang by a thread after just one win in the opening four matches, and they (66/1 in the outright betting) now need to win their last two games in Group E and hope for results to go their way elsewhere.

The Merseysiders return to Premier League action after the international break with a home clash against big-spending Manchester City in the early kick-off on Saturday.

Benitez’s men, who are expected to be without Fernando Torres but should have Steven Gerrard available, are 10/11 favourites in the match betting, with City available at 5/2 and the draw at 9/4.