Rafael Benitez has revealed that he intends to keep a strong Scouse heart to his new-look Liverpool team but claims that the will to win is more important that the place of your birth.

"It's always important to have a core of local players in my team," Benitez said. "But not just local players, players with the right mentality and professionalism. They have to be able to play to a certain level, of course. I want players who only want to win. If you have players who are not ready to fight for the team they are no use.

"I think I have players here who are willing to do this. Players like Gerrard, Murphy and Carragher feel Liverpool. That's a beginning for me. The spirit of Shankly is important here and it's important to them."

However, the new boss was quick to warn fans not to get too carried away with the 5-1 thrashing of Celtic on Tuesday morning. "You always need to keep everyone calm, even if you've won a game 5-1. If you say now the team is wonderful and we are the best, the supporters will expect us to win all the matches. Little by little, game by game, I'm feeling happier. But we must still recognise those things we've done badly and correct them. When the river is flowing downwards, then you must swim against the tide. When it's flowing upwards, you must paddle stronger in the opposite direction."