Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, has attempted to deflect the mounting pressure on him by insisting "I don't have to win a trophy."

Liverpool suffered their fifth Premier League defeat of the season when they went down 3-1 to Fulham at Craven Cottage yesterday, a game in which Philipp Degen and Jamie Carragher, their captain, were sent off.

They were also knocked out of the Carling Cup at Arsenal in midweek and the club's further participation in the Champions League will be thrown into doubt if they lose to Lyons on Wednesday.

Yet Benitez remains defiant. "I don't agree with people when they say you have to win trophies," he said. "You have to be close and create a group of players that can fight for trophies.

"We got 86 points in the Premier League last year and some people say it wasn't a good season. But to finish second (to champions Manchester United) and close the gap between the top team and us to four points was a massive achievement.

"Trophies mean a lot to everyone but to see the team progress means you can guarantee you will be there in the future and you can fight for trophies."

Benitez has won the Champions League, the FA Cup and Super Cup during his five years at Anfield, but his last trophy was the FA Cup three years ago when West Ham were beaten in a thrilling penalty shoot-out.

"People can say I have been here for five years but you can see the difference. Compare the value of the club before and the value of the club now," he added.

"Compare the value of the squad before and the value of the squad now, you can see the progression."

Benitez said he had no regrets at taking off Fernando Torres against Fulham, after the Spanish striker took four days to recover from an 80-minute appearance against Manchester United at Anfield last Sunday.

Benitez said: "We needed to do something to protect the player. We were more or less in control of the game. If we had left him on the pitch maybe we would have lost the player for a month.

"It was a difficult decision but we decided to start with him because he can do a proper warm-up. But we decided to take him out at 60 minutes. The last time he played 80 minutes it took him four days to be fit."

It means Torres, who equalised Bobby Zamora's opening goal with a brilliant volley for his 10th league goal of the season, is touch and go to be fit for Wednesday's Group E match which could shape Liverpool's entire season.

Defeat could see them go out of the Champions League at the group stage and with Steven Gerrard doubtful with his groin injury and Glen Johnson suffering from a calf strain, the Liverpool injury list shows no sign of easing.