Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool have to start proving his expensively-assembled squad is better than last season's outfit.
The Anfield chief witnessed yet another deflating defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Manchester United emerging comfortable 2-0 victors to return to the top of the Barclays Premiership, 11 point clear of Benitez's troops.
It is a sobering time for the Spaniard, who consistently claims his summer buys - added to last season's side that finished third - have improved Liverpool's squad.
But he said: 'I believe - I know - we are a better squad than last season. But we have to prove that.
'The way to change things in your life is to work harder and better. We must think about Reading in the Carling Cup and then (Aston) Villa. If I think every day, all week, about what went wrong, what half chances we missed we would not change anything.
'We must focus on improving, getting better at what we do - and the things we are not doing well.
'Last season, we were much better away from home, and we have a situation now when we are looking at the same defenders and the same midfielders who were in that position last season.
'The difference is scoring first - everything changes in a game when that happens.'
And Benitez argued the solution is not necessarily returning skipper Steven Gerrard to the centre of midfield.
He said: 'Stevie has played in the middle sometimes, but if you have Momo (Sissoko) and Xabi (Alonso) doing well in the middle and Stevie scoring goals like he did last season, then you will do well.
'The team today was the one we needed because we had enough quality to win the match. I don't think there was a lack of confidence - the first half hour we were fine.
'But the first goal gave them control. Manchester United are a very good team in such circumstances.
'That first goal was hard to stop, our players had worked very hard to contain United, but one slip and a difficult low cross comes in which is very hard to stop.
'I don't want to blame individuals, they were doing the things we had talked about. The second half was about passion and quality and we know United have both.'
He added: 'This is still a very, very long race. I cannot say whether we can make up 11 points, yes or no. But we can only look to the next one and to make sure we improve and get the points that will make the situation easier to manage.'
Benitez admitted the defeat at Old Trafford was one of his most frustrating as Liverpool manager.
He said: 'It is clearly one of my most disappointing days as manager of the club.
'It is a game I know everybody at the club and the supporters wants us to win, particularly at Old Trafford.
'I felt we started the game well but we didn't create enough. We had some chances and good possession, but we could not create clear openings. Things were okay until we conceded the first goal.
'That changed the game for both sides. We needed to go forward, the game was more open and, with their quality, it became more difficult for us.'
Benitez has yet to register a league victory over United, and his side have failed to scored against Alex Ferguson's men for 396 minutes of Premiership action.
