Despite reeling way behind in the Premier League, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has stunned the Reds' fans by his latest outburst by insisting that increasing the club's value was more important than winning trophies.

Liverpool's title dreams have been hit by five Premier League defeats already this season.

They crashed out of the Carling Cup at Arsenal in midweek and their Champions League dreams will be in tatters if they lose Wednesday's crucial Group E clash in Lyon.

"I don't have to win a trophy. I don't agree with people when they say you have to win trophies," The News of the World quoted Benitez, as saying.

"You have to be close and create a group of players that can fight for trophies. We got 86 points in the Premier League last year and some people say it wasn't a good season. But to finish second and close the gap between the top team and us to four points was a massive achievement," he added.

Benitez has won the Champions League, Super Cup and FA Cup during his five years at Anfield, but his last trophy was the FA Cup three years ago.

He further said the situation of the club has undergone a massive transformation under his guidance.

"People can say I have been here for five years, but you can see the difference. Compare the value of the club before and the value of the club now, you can see the progression," Benitez said.