And the Anfield chief insists that having far greater attacking options has ensured the Merseysiders are still unbeaten this term.

After the 6-0 demolition of Derby, Benitez could hardly have expected to still be top today, with Chelsea and Manchester City both playing on Sunday.

But they lost, and for the next fortnight Benitez can look down on the rest, with Liverpool top of the table for the first time in five years.

Benitez claims that the simple difference between this season and last is competition for places amongst his strike-force.

Fernando Torres, Andriy Voronin, Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt cost $90million between them, and if you add wingers Jermaine Pennant and Ryan Babel to the equation, that is $135million of attacking talent scrapping for places at Anfield.

If Liverpool keep going at this rate, it could be the $135million that finally brings the title back to Anfield.

Benitez's rotation policy, so maligned in the previous couple of years, is creating the different between this campaign and last, claims the Spaniard.

He said: "There is a long way to go, what is more important is to make sure the team maintain the same mentality.

"The understanding between Torres and Kuyt is fine, but then when it was Kuyt and Voronin that was good also. It is the same when Crouch is playing with Torres, Voronin or Kuyt, I am pleased with all the combinations.

"All of them know what we want, their movement is good and I am sure it will improve even more over the coming weeks.

"Now we have four players with quality and different skills. I can now manage in a different way because you know all of them can score goals.

"You cannot say that Torres will score more goals that Kuyt, Voronin or Crouch. They can all score and they are all equal."

Benitez has sent the bulk of his squad off on international duty this week - 15 players in all - with Liverpool at their highest point since he took over three years ago.

He said: "I am pleased now because the team are scoring, we are not losing or conceding goals and that is all very positive for us.

"We are different from last season. We are able to finish teams off, we can score the first and then the second, and the game is over. It is different to some of the games last season.

"I am sure the fans will enjoy where we are. But for me that is not important now, it is too early. We must keep going and see what happens in a couple of months' time.

"The work rate of the team is so good, Kuyt did not score against Derby but his effort and running was fantastic. Torres, Voronin too, I was really pleased with them all.

"We have tried to find wingers for three years, but now we seem to have a couple in Pennant and Babel. They can both work well out wide."

He added: "Jermaine has a better mentality now. He can play down both wings, he has more determination to attack defenders. Babel has pace and ability, we are better now in the wide areas than last season."

Benitez Benitez's strikers have all scored this term, they share nine between them already, and the manager is not for turning.

He said: "Players who come here know I rotate my teams, they can read it all over Europe, about how I operate. But if you want to fight for four trophies you know people cannot play every game.

"It is better for them to play maybe 35-40 games than more than 60. Players understand, they may not be pleased when they are not in the squad but they do understand.

"They must work really hard and be ready for the next game. It is difficult for me to chose two from four strikers, but it is also difficult for Chelsea and Manchester United or Arsenal, any top side."

He added: "They will not be happy to not be involved, but we will want them to be ready for the next game, the next one and the next one.

"Every player has different qualities, and their are difficult choices, but they are problems I want to have."

Only Chelsea have stopped Liverpool winning this season.

Benitez added: "We are better than before, we have more confidence and we are scoring more goals and winning games.

"Now we must keep winning and after a month or two, maybe we can then talk about whether we are at the beginning of a fantastic season.