RAFAEL BENITEZ believes Liverpool's Premiership improvement this season is a result of greater understanding between himself and his players.
The 3-1 victory over Everton on Saturday took the Anfield outfit on to 64 points - six points more than the whole of last season with still six games remaining.
Liverpool finished fifth last year, but are in a strong position to end the current campaign in at least third place and secure Champions League qualification.
And Benitez is convinced the manner of his team's weekend derby triumph - in which Liverpool played 72 minutes with 10 men following the sending-off of Steven Gerrard - is evidence of how is message is now getting across.
"We still need to improve in some areas, but you see play-ers with more game intelligence now," said the Anfield manager. "They are learning and they are understanding things better.
"How close are we to what I want? I'm not sure, but we're closer to where I want us to be.
"The most important thing we learned from Saturday was that the team knew what to do when they had 10 players."
Benitez also believes the signing of Peter Crouch and the return to form of Harry Kewell has made a huge difference to Liverpool's performances this season.
"Harry is a player who can beat players, and we didn't have someone like that before," he added. "Crouch gives us options and always gives to you something different. He's good in the air and keeps the ball."
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