Houllier added that, even though the experience of Gary McAllister and Markus Babbel had been crucial these last few weeks, he would continue to search primarily for developing players rather than established ones.He said the team also needed to be better in build-up play. While denying they are defensive, he admitted they are better at counter-attacking than prising teams open when they have been able to get back in numbers. With this in mind it is hoped that Jamie Redknapp will complete a full pre-season and be fit to rejoin the squad next year In addition Steven Gerrard will be a year older and wiser. "As a manager you are careful not to restrain the initiative of players but he wastes too many balls at the moment, sometimes he wants to be too decisive, too quick."Rick Parry, the club's chief executive, added: "The squad is 80 per cent there. It is just fine-tuning but it is difficult because any players you bring in have to be better. There is no point in enlarging the squad for the sake of it." Parry said the financial benefit of the club campaigns was equivalent to "a good run in the Champions' League But it is not about the money. We need to be businesslike, but first and foremost we are a football club Liverpool is about winning trophies Look at the players and supporters on Wednesday.

You don't get celebrations like that for coming third in the Premiership."Houllier was reluctant to emphasize his own role in the club's renaissance, preferring to stress the part played by his staff. But though comparisons with Bill Shankly appeared to embarrass him, one of his assistants, Phil Thompson, noted that supporters made the connection. "He loves Liverpool like Shanks did and the supporters love him for that. We were out together one day and some fans sang 'Are you Shankly in disguise?' "There is a world of difference between the Scottish scion of a mining town and the French ex-schoolteacher but one senses that, if the technology had been around in Shankly's day, he, too, would have happily watched Liverpool on Turkish TV at four in the morning.. Liverpool, fresh from their unprecedented cup treble sealed on Wednesday night, are keen to add more air power to their set-up. Liverpool, fresh from their unprecedented cup treble sealed on Wednesday night, are keen to add more air power to their set-up.

However, it is not only the Juventus striker David Tr?guet that the Uefa Cup holders are after but also an aeroplane. Rick Parry, Liverpool's chief executive, told The Independent the idea had been discussed, at first jokingly, then seriously, as the club sought to perfect the team's preparation."It is not an exceptional expense," said Parry. "At present we charter planes and while some have been very comfortable, sometimes they have been cramped. When you have a player like Steven Gerrard, who needs to stretch out after a match, that is not ideal. If we had our own plane we could kit it out with massage tables, medical facilities and beds."Liverpool have already bucked the trend by staying over after European ties rather than flying straight back "That was G?rd Houllier's idea," said Parry. "It means the players get a proper night's sleep."The plane would be used for domestic and European trips and may even be loaned out to club rivals and national sides to lower the high running costs.. Sir Alex Ferguson's immediate future at Manchester United has been thrown into doubt after the Old Trafford manager was told by the club's chief executive, Peter Kenyon, that he must sell players before he can add to his existing squad this summer. Sir Alex Ferguson's immediate future at Manchester United has been thrown into doubt after the Old Trafford manager was told by the club's chief executive, Peter Kenyon, that he must sell players before he can add to his existing squad this summer.