Seven defeats in the first four months of the campaign - five more than last year when they finished second to Manchester United - left the club floundering a long way off the pace in the Barclays Premier League.

Losses to the likes of Sunderland, Portsmouth and Fulham were put forward as evidence of the general malaise and stagnation at Anfield.

Early exits from the Champions League - for the first time in Benitez's reign - and the FA Cup also put the manager's own future under intense scrutiny.

However, a seven-match unbeaten run of five wins and two draws has lifted Liverpool back into the top four for the first time since early October.

Gerrard accepts the side struggled to begin with but believes they are now showing their true quality and fighting spirit.

"There have been games this season where we have been beaten and not shown enough fight, enough good attitude and commitment," said the England midfielder.

"That's why we've not gotten the results we've wanted, but I don't think anyone can criticise us over the last seven games for the level of commitment.

"Every single player in the squad has rolled his sleeves up and everyone is fighting for the same thing."

A victory at Arsenal tomorrow - where they have not won in the league for a decade - would put Liverpool within two points of their third-placed opponents.

And Gerrard believes they would not let that slip.

"I'm sure Arsenal will be a bit of a wounded animal on Wednesday," he added.

"It's a massive game for us and the target is to try to get a result where we can push on and try to get third place.

"Our target is a top-four finish but if Arsenal give us any sniff of catching them then we want to grab it, and hopefully that will be on Wednesday night."

Liverpool are likely to be without striker Fernando Torres and £18million full-back Glen Johnson for another month, while midfielder Yossi Benayoun is still weeks away from fitness.

But in their absence the rest of the squad have pulled together and Gerrard claims they have drawn on their experiences in the Champions League, which they famously won in 2005 after coming back from 3-0 down against AC Milan, and also being regulars in the Premier League's top four.

"Having the Champions League experience and also finishing in the top four for the past few years will hold us in good stead when the big games come up," said the 29-year-old.

"But we're treating every game like a cup final at the moment because we're desperate for this top four [position]."

Liverpool's ability to compete in the transfer market with the likes of Manchester City, Tottenham and Aston Villa has been hamstrung by the financial restraints put on Benitez by American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

So while their nearest rivals for a Champions League place were able to spend big in the summer, the Reds boss was working with very little money and had to generate transfer funds by selling players.

That has impacted on the squad, which has been hit by injuries to key players like Torres, Benayoun and Gerrard, and as a result every setback was magnified.

"We certainly understand the pressure coming from Manchester City, Tottenham and Aston Villa, and also teams behind them," Gerrard told talkSPORT.

"Because the top four is so important financially to everyone, and because every player in the league wants to experience Champions League football, there's a lot of teams fighting for it.

"A lot of teams are putting in a lot of money and squads are improving all the time.

"We've certainly noticed this year that sides in the middle of the table and below are an awfully lot harder to beat.

"A couple of years ago, when you played teams lower down the league you would expect to win games comfortably but I don't think you can say that this season.

"The lower [placed] teams are taking points off the top sides."

Benitez is not expecting an easy ride against the Gunners despite them losing their last two matches, although he rejected Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack's claim that they were a predictable side.

"They are a very good team with a lot of different options; they play with quality and have a very good manager and he has done a very good job in the last 15 years," he said.

"We know Arsenal have plenty of possession in every game but we will try to win.

"They play very offensively, which sometimes is good because then you can score goals and sometimes you are exposed in defence and have problems.

"I think we are in a good moment but maybe because they have lost their last two games they have to prove something."