Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez agrees with star striker
Fernando Torres' frank assessment of his team's failings.
Torres has claimed that a spate of summer departures meant
'everything got messed up' for the Reds this season.
Having begun the campaign among the favourites for the Premier
League title, Liverpool are looking increasingly unlikely to even
finish fourth.
Under pressure: Rafa Benitez agrees with Fernando
Torres that Liverpool need to bring in new players this
summer
A draw at Birmingham on Sunday has left them sixth, four points
adrift of that all-important Champions League-qualifying position,
having played a game more than both Manchester City in fourth and
Tottenham in fifth.
Benitez concedes his squad need major investment this summer to
force its way back among the title contenders.
The Spaniard said: 'I agree with Fernando about a lot of things.
He talks about it being a pity we finished with 86 points last year
and we couldn't progress.
'We need to sign some players, we need to bring some money. We
need an investor and then we can challenge in a better way.
'The players are working so hard and they feel they can do
more.
'Fernando the other day (at Birmingham), he was feeling really
tired. He was trying and the other players were trying but while we
don't have the investor it will be difficult to go one step
forward.'
Battle: Fernando Torres vies with Benfica's Fabio
Coentrao during last week's first leg
Benitez was speaking ahead of the Europa League quarter-final
second leg against Benfica at Anfield.
Liverpool trail 2-1 from the first meeting in Lisbon but the
competition looks like their best hope of salvaging something from
the season.
'We will try to do our best to win,' Benitez said.
'Hopefully we can balance the books this year. We need now to
perform on the pitch and create a better situation for the new
investors.'
When asked whether he could elaborate on whether owners George
Gillett and Tom
Hicks have offered any indication that new investment might be
imminent, Benitez avoided the question in familiar style.
He said: 'I understand the players, we have to stick together
and prepare for a Europa League game.'