Rafael Benitez insists Liverpool must take full advantage of three key games in a week ahead of the distraction of a Champions League showdown with Inter Milan.

The Anfield boss, flush from completing the permanent signing of Javier Mascherano few days back on a four-year contract, also believes he has ended doubts about Steven Gerrard’s commitment to the club.

Those doubts surfaced after the frustrated club skipper’s angry condemnation in midweek of Liverpool’s flop in the Premier League title race.

With Gerrard ‘100% committed to the club’, in Benitez’s words, and the Mascherano deal finally tied up, the Spanish coach turns his attention to tomorrow’s trip to struggling Bolton.

After the Bolton match, Liverpool play their long-awaited game in hand at home to West Ham on Wednesday, followed by next weekend’s visit of Newcastle.

That is nine points on offer that could dramatically change the club’s chase for fourth spot before they head off to Italy the following week.

Benitez said: ‘We have three games in a week now before we play Inter Milan, and with such a chase on for fourth spot we know that every game now is crucial. Aston Villa and Everton both want to play Champions League football, but so do we. It is crucial for us too so we will keep going and try to win every game. Now we have to be ready for our next game and try to win at Bolton. Then we have our game in hand, when West Ham are here on Wednesday, before we play Newcastle at Anfield next weekend. All these games are now very important to our objectives, we must keep going. We cannot afford to drop points, every game is important and we must reduce the gap on teams above us. We keep talking about our game in hand, so now it is here we must win it. That will put us in a better position.’

Benitez has confidence in his squad, despite only winning two of their last eight league matches.

He said: ‘The players have experience of winning several games in a row. We have the squad to do it so now we need to start doing it. We also have experience now of playing at Bolton, where we have always had trouble. But we have confidence after our last two wins, and we can go there believing we can win. Bolton are strong and physical, they do the same things they were doing under previous managers. But we need to keep the ball, move it quickly and make use of our possession. They will try to stop us doing that, but that is nothing new. But we know we must keep going. Every game is crucial for us, and we must win from now until the last game.’