Benitez will break up his final squad

May 22 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

“Every time I have spoken to them it has been positive and we will be talking again after the final.”

With Steve Finnan following the example of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher by agreeing a new Anfield contract, Benitez’s masterplan has taken another step forward.

The Spaniard demonstrated his ruthless streak in the wake of Liverpool’s Champions League win over Milan in Istanbul two years ago.

Eight of the 18 involved that night are no longer at the club, while Jerzy Dudek and Scott Carson have subsequently enjoyed few first-team opportunities under Benitez.

And the Spaniard added: “We know we can improve and we will do by bringing in new players with character, quality and experience. We know we have to progress and keep going forward.

“I am happy with my players and feel we are going in the right direction, but this final is just a stopping point on the way to where we want to be.

“You always need to progress and we need to improve to challenge for the Premiership.

“Winning another European Cup would be very welcome but the aim is not simply to win this trophy but to be strong all round so we can mount a challenge for the Premiership next season.”

One criticism of this Liverpool team is they are only at their best when reacting to a problem, rather than imposing themselves on teams, as shown against Milan in 2005 and in last year’s FA Cup final meeting with West Ham United.

“We do need to be more proactive,” admitted Benitez. “That is what the perfect team is like, and ideally you want the perfect team.

“In the future, my idea is to give the players things of how to think and they can find solutions.”

Benitez has a number of issues to resolve with his team selection for tomorrow’s showpiece occasion against Milan.

Bolo Zenden’s ankle injury means one of Harry Kewell, Mark Gonzalez or Alvaro Arbeloa are on standby to start, while the Liverpool manager will choose between Peter Crouch and Craig Bellamy to partner Dirk Kuyt in attack.

German referee Herbert Fandel will be in charge of tomorrow’s game after being chosen by UEFA ahead of Slovakia’s Lubos Michel.

While Liverpool have not won with Fandel as their referee in three matches, Milan have won five matches out of five with the German in charge.