We can win title with players we have got, insists Benitez

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez believes he can win the Barclays Premier League title with the players he has got.

It has become clear that the Anfield chief is highly unlikely to delve into the transfer market this month, with very little prospect of any of his first-team squad stars leaving the club.

There is a very obvious desire at the club not to rock the boat at any level with Liverpool top of the table and aiming for their first title in 19 years.

Sources at the club confirm that Benitez has made no move to re-sign Emile Heskey, despite constant speculation that the England international was on his way back to Merseyside.

And Liverpool have Fernando Torres, Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio and Alvaro Arbeloa all back from injury to boost the side in the final 18 league games of the season.

Benitez said: “We finished 2008 very well, we played with style and have scored a lot of goals. I am very pleased and happy with the situation and hope it will be the same in the new year.

“We have other players apart from Torres coming back from injury. There is Skrtel, Aurelio and Arbeloa all fit now. It will be like signing three new players.

“We do not need to go into the transfer market, we are certainly not desperate to do so.

“But we are in a good position and I am happy to use the players we have now plus the ones returning from injury.”

The only departure is likely to be out-of-favour Jermaine Pennant, whose contract expires at the end of the season.

Benitez will rebuff any attempts by AC Milan to sign defender Daniel Agger, while Andreas Dossena, who would have been a possible departure, is now needed as back-up for Aurelio at left-back.

That is because Liverpool will lose impressive Argentinian youngster Emiliano Insua until February 8 due to the South American Under-20 Championships.

With things going well on the pitch, the club’s controversial American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have opted for a low profile to maintain the club’s concentration on their title bid. The widely-touted six-month extension to their £350m of loans has also been confirmed.