
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is confident his squad has the 'strength' and 'quality' to win the Premier League.
The Reds overtook Manchester United at the summit on Saturday as substitutes Dirk Kuyt and Fernando Torres scored in the last five minutes to secure a 3-2 win at Portsmouth.
Torres and Kuyt were joined by Xabi Alonso on the bench at Fratton Park and all three were required as Benitez's men - who have played two games more than United - chased the win they needed to overtake the Red Devils.
Alonso had a hand in Fabio Aurelio's goal to cancel out David Nugent's opener for the hosts, and Kuyt equalised again after Hermann Hreidarsson had put Pompey back in front.
Torres then struck in stoppage time with a header from Yossi Benayoun's cross and Benitez was impressed, saying: "The strength of the squad is good, you can see from the players that played. Hopefully we can be there.
"I think we have enough quality. We knew it would be very difficult to stay top for a long time but we are still there and we want to be contenders to the end."
Benitez explained how his three substitutes needed to rest after a gruelling extra-time FA Cup defeat to Everton in midweek.
"Torres, Kuyt and Alonso were really tired," he said.
"We had played 10 men and extra time against Everton this week so we were talking with the medical staff about our selection.
"It is not a gamble when you know they were tired.
"I had confidence. We showed great desire to win and they showed character and mentality."
Torres will now link up with the Spain squad ahead of the friendly against England on Wednesday.
"He will go to Spain," Benitez confirmed.
"We were in contact with (Spain boss) Vicente Del Bosque, they know the situation and they will decide."

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