Rejuvenated Reds can catch Chelsea: Parry

THE Premiership title is a realistic goal for a rejuvenated Liverpool, according to the club's chief executive Rick Parry.

And Parry, who was instrumental in bringing Rafael Benitez to Anfield from Valencia in July 2004 to replace Gerard Houllier, paid a glowing tribute to the Spanish manager and his players.

A miraculous Champions League triumph in Istanbul in May looked to be a freakish result for a club whose Premiership form was at best patchy.

But after an inconsistent start to the season Liverpool sit second in the table, having won seven league matches on the trot.

"We are very pleased with what Rafa has done - pleased but not surprised," said Parry.

"We are also delighted with the way the players have responded to him.

"There's a hunger and an ambition within the club that's shared by the supporters, the players, the manager and the directors.

"We are pleased with the way things are going this year and delighted with how things finished last year.

"The progress has been great but there is some way still to go yet and the aim now is to go on and win a league title or two."

Captain Steven Gerrard was equally upbeat about the club's future.

He said: "We have improved and although we still have a lot of improving to do, the next few years are going to be really exciting for Liverpool."

Liverpool are 12 points behind leaders Chelsea, albeit with a match in hand, so their sights, in the short-term at least, will have to focus on adding the Club World Championship to their expanding trophy cabinet.

The Reds face Deportivo Saprissa tomorrow in a semi-final they believe they can win, provided jet-lag has been shaken off.

Benitez has preached hard work since his arrival on Merseyside and he insisted there would be no let up in spite of the 12,000-mile round trip.

He said: "There is a big difference in the time from the UK to Japan but we will prepare the players as we would for a Premiership or a Champions League match.

"We will study the opposition in the same way and it is our intention to do our best and win the tournament, if it's possible."

Benitez's task is aided by a formidable defence which is homing in on a new club record when they face the Costa Ricans.

The 2-0 win over Middlesbrough on Saturday was Liverpool's 10th clean sheet in a row, matching the class of 1987-88.

But that side, which included legends such as Alan Hansen, Mark Lawrenson and Bruce Grobbelaar, were championship winners - a point not lost on one of the cornerstones of the current rearguard, Jamie Carragher.

"Those players went on to win championships and two or three European cups," he explained. "That's the aim of the club.

"Statistics show that you are doing a good job at the time but the thing is to win silverware.

"It's nice to share the record and hopefully we can go on to beat it, but the goal is to be as successful as the great teams of the past."