The Merseysiders' new owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, will maintain the policy drawn up by David Moores' previous regime by making around £2.5m available to be split among the playing squad should Liverpool overcome the Rossoneri in Greece and claim their second Champions League in three seasons. That will equate to around £100,000 a man, with the management staff, and Rafael Benítez in particular, also to benefit from a hefty bonus.
One of those senior players Liverpool are hoping to tie down on improved terms is Xabi Alonso, despite the fact that the Basque began last week's pivotal semi-final second leg against Chelsea on the bench. "I think Xabi understands," said Benítez. "The players know me. They know I can change one or two players but that doesn't mean I am disappointed with any of them.
"I was talking with Mohamed Sissoko recently because, in the last two or three weeks, he has had more problems [playing in the first-team] because Javier Mascherano has been doing so well and Steven Gerrard was in the middle. I said to him it was not a problem because we will play 60 games next season and we need a lot of good players. Sure, all the players must be a little disappointed if they don't play but they need to have respect for their team-mates. Xabi is a good professional and it is not a problem."