LIVERPOOL, Sept 25, 2009 (AFP) - Rafael Benitez has brushed off a suggestion he has switched to a more attacking system, insisting greater confidence is behind Liverpool's high-scoring start to the season.

The Spaniard's success as a coach has been founded on his skill at making his teams hard to beat but the Reds have appeared a little shaky defensively this season -- nine goals conceded in six league matches -- while displaying a sharper cutting edge at the other end of the pitch.

"It is similar to last season - we are creating more or less the same situations but now we are scoring more goals because the accuracy is better," Benitez said ahead of struggling Hull's visit to Anfield on Saturday.

"It is true we score a lot of goals. It's funny because people were talking before about us needing to score more goals because we were good in defence.

"Now they are saying we are scoring goals but conceding goals - so we can never win. Maybe it is because we are more offensive - but it is not because we are changing the system."

That said, Benitez does accept that the 18-million-pound acquisition of England right-back Glen Johnson has given his side an added dimension going forward.

"Glen Johnson likes to go forward all the time," he said. "Alvaro Arbeloa defended a bit better so he had more balance.

"Yossi Benayoun, Dirk Kuyt, Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard are all going forward, maybe it is more than last year but they have confidence and are playing well.

Benitez also feels the players have grown in stature after pushing Manchester United to the wire in last season's title battle.

"It was very important for us. We won a lot of games in a row at the end of the season because we had a lot of confidence and we wanted to be as close to them as possible.

"You can take it as a positive because we were so close.

"This season it has almost been a problem because from the first day people were expecting us to win and score five goals in every game.

"Now, despite not starting well, we are in a good position and everyone has more confidence to play better.

"We know the teams at the top of the table will not make too many mistakes so we have to keep winning games."

Jamie Carragher has been blamed for Liverpool's defensive frailty this season but Benitez insists the former England defender has not slipped past his sell-by date.

"We have conceded some goals and he has made some mistakes but Carra is okay," he said. "It is a question of the team defending better, not just one or two players."