Benitez wants Liverpool to be genuine Premiership contenders

MANAGER Rafael Benitez may be turning his attention to winning the Champions League for a second time in three seasons, but he is intent on making sure Liverpool are genuine Premiership contenders next term.

Liverpool matched last season’s third-place finish with a scrappy 2-2 draw at home to relegated Charlton on Sunday. Today they head to La Manga in southern Spain for a five-day training camp ahead of the May 23 final with AC Milan in Athens.

However, Benitez knows that, with the major influx of money from new owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett available this summer, Liverpool must make a far better fist of their title challenge next time around.