Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has insisted the Premier League title is the club’s number one priority next season, in an attempt to placate disillusioned fans.
The Reds again failed to put up any real competition for domestic honours this term, finishing in fourth place, some 11 points behind champions Manchester United.
It is now 18 seasons since the Merseyside giants have won the league title, and their record of 18 English championships is now under threat from their greatest rivals, as United’s win brought their tally to 17.
And with the Red Devils also clinching their third European Cup, Liverpool’s historical superiority over their North West enemies is in danger of being completely nullified within a matter of years.
Such a situation has seen Reds supporters become severely disgruntled with the running of the club, who must now hastily undo more than a decade of timid or misguided spending if they wish to maintain their status as England’s greatest.
Manager Rafa Benitez has already declared his intention to move swiftly and significantly in the transfer market, having wrapped up the signing of Swiss full-back Philipp Degen and nearly completed the acquisition of Udinese defender Andrea Dossena.
And Parry, whose job is under threat following a falling out with club co-owner Tom Hicks, insists everyone at Anfield is keen to make a genuine challenge for the Premier League title next season.
"We have to look back, learn and build for next season when the Premier League title will again be a priority target," he said.
"We said back in February that despite the off field issues we needed to focus on a busy and important game schedule. The players did this and we qualified for next season's Champions League with games to spare.
"As ever, we now begin to concentrate on further improving the squad for next year. We have to be real contenders. The points gap has narrowed, but it's still not enough.
"We have the nucleus of a very good team and now we must build on that during the summer break."
The Reds again failed to put up any real competition for domestic honours this term, finishing in fourth place, some 11 points behind champions Manchester United.
It is now 18 seasons since the Merseyside giants have won the league title, and their record of 18 English championships is now under threat from their greatest rivals, as United’s win brought their tally to 17.
And with the Red Devils also clinching their third European Cup, Liverpool’s historical superiority over their North West enemies is in danger of being completely nullified within a matter of years.
Such a situation has seen Reds supporters become severely disgruntled with the running of the club, who must now hastily undo more than a decade of timid or misguided spending if they wish to maintain their status as England’s greatest.
Manager Rafa Benitez has already declared his intention to move swiftly and significantly in the transfer market, having wrapped up the signing of Swiss full-back Philipp Degen and nearly completed the acquisition of Udinese defender Andrea Dossena.
And Parry, whose job is under threat following a falling out with club co-owner Tom Hicks, insists everyone at Anfield is keen to make a genuine challenge for the Premier League title next season.
"We have to look back, learn and build for next season when the Premier League title will again be a priority target," he said.
"We said back in February that despite the off field issues we needed to focus on a busy and important game schedule. The players did this and we qualified for next season's Champions League with games to spare.
"As ever, we now begin to concentrate on further improving the squad for next year. We have to be real contenders. The points gap has narrowed, but it's still not enough.
"We have the nucleus of a very good team and now we must build on that during the summer break."
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