Gerrard calls for financial backing

Updated 12.44 Sun May 18 2008

Keywords: george gillett, tom hicks, rafael benitez, steven gerrard, liverpool, football, sport

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has urged the club's owners to help the team challenge for the Premier League title next season.

This year, Liverpool finished fourth in the table behind Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, and they reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.

"The time to act is now not in January when we are already too far behind" - Steven Gerrard

But Gerrard is hoping the club's owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett will put their personal differences aside and allow Benitez to bring in several players.

Gerrard said: "It hurts more and more when we get to November or December every season and have to accept we're out of the title race again.

"Every year seems to be following the same routine, the manager asks for more support in the transfer market in January, while we're all saying to ourselves this should have happened the previous summer.

"The time to act is now, not in January when we're already too far behind."

Gerrard also confirmed Benitez has the support of his squad.

He added: "The manager knows where we need to strengthen and the players and fans have faith in Rafa, but he needs the backing to act on his plans.

"When the American owners came to Liverpool they told the players and fans they wanted the same as us.

"We all believed them when they made that promise and it's been repeated again since, so we're all desperate to see it happen."