Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is targeting shrewd summer buys as he bids to close the gap on Manchester United.
The Reds have failed to win a Premier League title but this year came close - taking United almost to the wire.
Benitez knows he must strengthen his squad in the summer to bridge the gap - but as Liverpool lack the financial might of the Red Devils, he must buy wisely.
The Spaniard said: "Clearly they (Man United) have spent big, big money on top class players so they can make mistakes and change players and you don't notice.
"If you remember when we played them they had Giggs, Scholes and Berbatov on the bench - we can't do this.
"We are talking about Gerrard and Torres all the time and they can play Berbatov, Rooney, Ronaldo or Tevez - it doesn't matter.
"They can hold 35,000 more fans in their stadium and that means more money which is a big difference.
"So how can you reduce the gap? Now, on the pitch we are reducing the gap which is very important. So we have to do the right things during the summer and keep the same mentality on the pitch."
Benitez believes investing in a bigger squad will pay dividends at the business end of the season.
"I think we have performed really well during the season, but it is impossible to keep this level if you don't have a big squad," he said.
"Some Manchester United players have spoken about the value of having a big squad saying that you can notice the difference at the end of the season.
"On the pitch we must perform at the same level, but you need to bring in new players and maintain the same level and keep the competition between the players - with everybody working hard and trying to be positive because there is a big difference every year in terms of money."
The Reds have failed to win a Premier League title but this year came close - taking United almost to the wire.
Benitez knows he must strengthen his squad in the summer to bridge the gap - but as Liverpool lack the financial might of the Red Devils, he must buy wisely.
The Spaniard said: "Clearly they (Man United) have spent big, big money on top class players so they can make mistakes and change players and you don't notice.
"If you remember when we played them they had Giggs, Scholes and Berbatov on the bench - we can't do this.
"We are talking about Gerrard and Torres all the time and they can play Berbatov, Rooney, Ronaldo or Tevez - it doesn't matter.
"They can hold 35,000 more fans in their stadium and that means more money which is a big difference.
"So how can you reduce the gap? Now, on the pitch we are reducing the gap which is very important. So we have to do the right things during the summer and keep the same mentality on the pitch."
Benitez believes investing in a bigger squad will pay dividends at the business end of the season.
"I think we have performed really well during the season, but it is impossible to keep this level if you don't have a big squad," he said.
"Some Manchester United players have spoken about the value of having a big squad saying that you can notice the difference at the end of the season.
"On the pitch we must perform at the same level, but you need to bring in new players and maintain the same level and keep the competition between the players - with everybody working hard and trying to be positive because there is a big difference every year in terms of money."
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