Benitez: Reds need new blood

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 Barclays Premier League title, Liverpool are looking increasingly unlikely to even finish fourth.

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."