Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez claims the club cannot compete with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea when it comes to money.
With United likely to go five points cleat at the top of the Premier League table when they play Fulham this week, Benitez insists Liverpool have not lost sight of the title and are in fact over achieving given their monetary situation.
"Every year United collect £60 million more than us - that means they can buy three £20 million players each season," he told the Mirror. "Chelsea will have spent £500 million over the last five years.
"We've made a team that can compete with them but economically we're inferiors and can't afford the players they can. I have enough data to bore you with but if you look at United it wasn't just spending £31m on Dimitar Berbatov - they can spend whatever it takes for what they need every year.
"Last year it was £17m on Owen Hargreaves, £18m on Nani and £20m on Anderson. In my five years I've paid less in transfer fees than I've received, even though I bought Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane."
Benitez, set to sign a new contract, added that while he always looks for the positives that come out of losses and poor performances, one factor both he and his players are trying to conquer is the pressure coming from Liverpool fans and their desperation to see the title brought back to Merseyside.
"Now we're out of the FA Cup it's necessary to look for the positives and those are that we will play fewer games and be able to concentrate more on the Premier League and the Champions League," he said.
"The title in England is very competitive, more so than in Spain, because every opponent you face will make it hard for you.
"Our biggest problem is in the great expectations of the success that surrounds us. All we ever hear from the fans is 'The League the League, it's 19 years since we had it'. Since I've been at the club we've won four trophies.
"I feel we're where we need to be but the problem for us now is the anxiety around us - we must handle it and that's not easy."
Benitez concluded by insisting his rant earlier this year directed at Sir Alex Ferguson was entirely justified and long overdue.
"Ferguson controls everything in this country," he added.
"These are the facts as everyone knows. When he decided to talk about Liverpool I knew I had to respond to him."
With United likely to go five points cleat at the top of the Premier League table when they play Fulham this week, Benitez insists Liverpool have not lost sight of the title and are in fact over achieving given their monetary situation.
"Every year United collect £60 million more than us - that means they can buy three £20 million players each season," he told the Mirror. "Chelsea will have spent £500 million over the last five years.
"We've made a team that can compete with them but economically we're inferiors and can't afford the players they can. I have enough data to bore you with but if you look at United it wasn't just spending £31m on Dimitar Berbatov - they can spend whatever it takes for what they need every year.
"Last year it was £17m on Owen Hargreaves, £18m on Nani and £20m on Anderson. In my five years I've paid less in transfer fees than I've received, even though I bought Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane."
Benitez, set to sign a new contract, added that while he always looks for the positives that come out of losses and poor performances, one factor both he and his players are trying to conquer is the pressure coming from Liverpool fans and their desperation to see the title brought back to Merseyside.
"Now we're out of the FA Cup it's necessary to look for the positives and those are that we will play fewer games and be able to concentrate more on the Premier League and the Champions League," he said.
"The title in England is very competitive, more so than in Spain, because every opponent you face will make it hard for you.
"Our biggest problem is in the great expectations of the success that surrounds us. All we ever hear from the fans is 'The League the League, it's 19 years since we had it'. Since I've been at the club we've won four trophies.
"I feel we're where we need to be but the problem for us now is the anxiety around us - we must handle it and that's not easy."
Benitez concluded by insisting his rant earlier this year directed at Sir Alex Ferguson was entirely justified and long overdue.
"Ferguson controls everything in this country," he added.
"These are the facts as everyone knows. When he decided to talk about Liverpool I knew I had to respond to him."
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