Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez insists there have been huge improvements since he took over in the summer of 2004 and that he has restored pride among the staff and fans. However, this season Liverpool have already suffered early exits from the Champions League and the FA Cup and are only seventh in the Barclays Premier League, 14 points behind leaders Chelsea.
Should the club not qualify for the Champions League his position would become increasingly precarious.
The Spaniard has spoken to Kop legend Kenny Dalglish about the fortunes of the club but it was in relation to a long-term strategy and not in regard to their recent troubles.
"The difference between the club before (Benitez's arrival) and now is massive in terms of money, the value of the squad and the pride of the fans," said the Liverpool boss.
"When I arrived here the club needed to win and the people had been talking about [winning] the championship for 19 years.
"We won the Champions League (in Benitez's first season) after 21 years and we are the only club in England that has the trophy [to keep] for five wins.
"As a club we have pride again and that is important."
Benitez has a good working relationship with Dalglish and the pair often speak, but not necessarily about the specifics of day-to-day life at the club.
"We talk sometimes but he is with the academy so we talk about how the players are doing there but the other day was just a short conversation," said the Spaniard.
"But we were talking the other day and it was interesting because we were talking about football and how the club was improving and the difficulty of going one step forward at this level.
"We were speaking about taking short steps. That is the difference between being at the level we are now and being a little bit better.
"This shorter step is the most difficult. It is true we have improved from a six (out of 10) to an eight or nine. To go to nine/10 that is very difficult."
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