Reina echoes calls for player investment
At the weekend, in an interview with the Spanish press, Torres said the club needed to sign four or five quality players in the summer.
He intimated a failure to do so could be interpreted as a lack of ambition and may lead to him considering his long-term future.
Although Reina feels similarly about the need to progress he has no qualms about committing his own long-term future to the club.
Asked how long it could be before Liverpool would have a realistic chance of winning the Premier League the Spain international said: “It is not a question I can answer.
“I can talk about the players but not the investment – that is not in our hands. But I hope we can compete with these kinds of transfers and spend some more money in the market, maybe go toe-to-toe with them.
“All I want and the team want is to be competitive as the others.
“There is nothing apart from winning the league with Liverpool once which makes me feel excited.
“That is a dream to get through and hopefully in a short period of time we will see it come true.”
Reina has already verbally agreed a new contract with the club and expects to complete the formalities next month.
“It is really close and it (signing a new contract) is because they were good to me and I am grateful,” said the 27-year-old Spain international.
“You will see something in a month or so. I am happy here and the club is happy with me so I have no problem.”
Reina’s immediate future involves keeping a clean sheet at home to Lille tonight as Liverpool try to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit from their Europa League last-16 tie.
Rafael Benitez has warned fans not to expect a repeat of their morale- boosting 4-1 victory over Portsmouth and it is unlikely his team selection will be as attacking as it was on Monday, though one consideration may be the fitness of Alberto Aquilani who missed training yesterday through sickness.
“On Monday we could see the football the side can play and hopefully we can see that against Lille, although it will be difficult,” said Benitez.
“Everyone wants to see attacking football and we try to approach every game in the same way and sometimes you can but sometimes you cannot.
“We knew we needed to push Portsmouth from the beginning because they are not having an easy time but that was a different game.
“We played good football and the fans were happy and it was good for confidence – but we must win (against Lille) because we lost the first leg.
“We have to make sure we do the right things: score, keep a clean sheet and do good football things.”
Benitez urged his players to rise to the occasion in front of an expectant crowd at Anfield.
“The fans know this is the last opportunity to win a trophy so hopefully there will be a good atmosphere,” added the Spaniard.
Maxi Rodriguez drops out of the squad as he is ineligible for European competition but apart from defenders Martin Skrtel (foot) and Fabio Aurelio (thigh) Benitez has a fully-fit squad.
Lille coach Rudi Garcia insists his side will not be overawed by the Anfield atmosphere tonight.
“There is no need to motivate the players for a game like this. The motivation has to be to get as far as we possibly can,” said Garcia.
“It will be the same kind of mindset. We will need to score, not only defend and play for 0-0.
“We have more chance to qualify if we score. The main thing is, no matter what the atmosphere is like, it is about the 11 players out there.
“We know we are playing against a legendary side in a very atmospheric – almost mythical – stadium of legends but we have experienced this against Fenerbahçe away from home.”
Lille are still without defenders Nicolas Plestan and Mathieu Debuchy, and forwards Tulio de Melo and Gervinho, who all have long-term injuries.
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