Benitez - We need to improve

Liverpool boss plans summer signings

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 11th May 2008

Rafa Benitez Champions League Football Chelsea

Benitez: Planning changes

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Rafa Benitez admits Liverpool need to improve in all areas if they are to secure the Premier League title next season.

The Reds, who finished their season with a 2-0 win away to Tottenham thanks to goals from Andrei Voronin and Fernando Torres, finished fourth in the table this term after being tipped to compete for the top-flight silverware at the beginning of the campaign.

And manager Benitez confesses he will venture into the summer transfer market in a bid to close the 11-point gap to champions Manchester United.

"We want to win trophies," Benitez told Sky Sports News. "But we saw this year that we are closer. We drew some games, but we will try to improve this next season.

Perfect

"Clearly if you want to close the gap you need to improve. Sometimes with the players you have you can reduce the gap, but you need to do almost everything perfectly."

Benitez, though, insists he will not be actively looking to sell the likes of Jermaine Pennant, Xabi Alonso, John Arne Riise and Peter Crouch - who were all left out of the Liverpool squad at White Hart Lane - in a bid to raise funds for a shopping spree.

Crouch has been especially strongly linked with a move elsewhere, but Benitez - who has placed a £15million asking price on the striker - is adamant that he is keen to keep the forward, despite hinting that offers would not be ignored.

"We offered Peter Crouch a new contract so we showed that we wanted to keep him," Benitez continued.

Confidence

"I told him, I was very clear, if someone wants to sign him they can talk with us but he is a player that is different and is a good player and we have confidence in him.

"Xabi Alonso was injured so he didn't travel. Pennant ad Riise are not here because I was trying to use the squad. They are under contracts so they are our players.

"I don't have any problems. The problem will be if we receive offers because they are playing really well."