Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has told the Premier League leaders not to be distracted from their quest to win the English title by the hype surrounding their derby FA Cup tie with Everton.

The Merseyside rivals will clash twice in a week, in the Premier League on January 19 and then in the fourth round of the Cup the following weekend.

Both matches are at Liverpool’s Anfield home ground and Benitez told the club’s official website on Monday: “It is a draw which will excite everyone in the city, because everyone knows about the great rivalry that exists between the two clubs.

“But we must remember that we have some big games coming up in the league before the cup tie - and we will be taking one game at a time,” the cautious Spaniard added.