Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is confident the squad he is building is moving in the right direction.

He told liverpoolfc.tv: "I think if you look at it we have improved every year since then.

"The squad is stronger and we now have more experience so it is clear that we are better now than we were then.

"This season has not been bad. It has not been perfect either because we have not won trophies and that is always what we set out to do at the start of every season.

"But if you look at the depth of the squad it is clear that we are going in the right direction.

"Now we must look to improve again by doing the right things and by signing the right players."

He added: "When you have a difficult season like this one I think you get to know people better.

"You know who you can trust and who can help you and for me that has been one of the best things about the season - I now know everyone better than I did before and that means we will be able to improve more in the future because I have more information."