Rafael Benitez believes a strong finish to the season is vital to Liverpool's future. The Reds boss has admitted that the club need major investment if they plan to force their way back amongst the Barclays Premier League's elite.
The poor state of Liverpool's finances and the consequent lack of transfer funds has been a recurring issue over the past two years. Benitez hopes winning the UEFA Europa League and qualifying for next season's UEFA Champions League will draw in potential new investors.
"We have to invest. If we want move forward we need money, we need investors, because the market is very expensive," said Benitez.
"The players are working very hard, you cannot ask for more from them, but we have to stick together now, try to progress in the Europa League and try to finish fourth in the Premier League. Working hard at the moment is the only way we can show that we want to progress.
We have to invest. If we want move forward we need money, we need investors, because the market is very expensive.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez
"We have been in the Champions League for six years in a row. Thanks to this the club still has the big name it has had in the past.
"We are bringing in a lot of money playing in Europe. We want to be there and then it will be easier for investors to see the club has an opportunity."
Liverpool's chances of finishing fourth in the Barclays Premier League are looking increasingly slim. They currently sit in sixth place, four points adrift of that crucial Champions League-qualifying position; they have also played a game more than their main qualification rivals.
That leaves the Europa League as their best hope of salvaging something from the season, but they will have to turn around a first leg quarter-final defeat against Benfica to do so. Liverpool go into tonight's second leg at Anfield trailing 2-1 after defeat in Lisbon last week.
"I think we have a really good chance to get through. It will be a big European night. The players are looking forward to a big chance to win a trophy this season," said Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt.
"We will just try to finish the season successfully. If we win the Europa League and our five Premier League games - that is our target - we will see what happens. The most important thing at this moment in time is just to qualify tonight," Kuyt added.
Star striker Fernando Torres is fit to lead the line after his controversial substitution in Sunday's draw at Birmingham. Benitez was criticised for removing his top scorer but the Spain international was later seen with an ice pack on his knee. The manager has repeatedly defended his decision to remove Torres with the score locked at 1-1.
"If a big club like Liverpool depends on one substitution, I think something is wrong. Fans know which was the situation. Everyone can make mistakes but still the big picture is the big picture," Benitez said. "The future of the club is more than one substitution and the future of the club is to win a game against Benfica," he added.
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