Benitez seeks cash to rebuild

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez has called on the club's board to free up the money which will allow him to strengthen the squad and increase competition as they make the push to reach the Premiership top four.

The Spaniard's priority is to secure qualification for next season's Champions League, which will bring in critical revenue to help him rebuild. Liverpool have been linked with a number of players ahead of the transfer window, with Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes top of the list.

However, Benitez may yet have to revise upwards his number of targets after losing Xabi Alonso to a broken ankle in Saturday's undeserved 1-0 defeat by Chelsea. The Anfield injury list is becoming an ever-growing nightmare, with Djibril Cisse out for the season, Harry Kewell six weeks and now Xabi Alonso set for two months enforced absence.