Benitez promises New Year arrivals

Last updated : 28 October 2005 By Adam Bryant

"In some positions, we don't have enough players," said the Liverpool boss. "You can't change things that happened in the summer now, but we can put it right in January. We know we need to think about the future.

"When you've missed a player you need in the summer, you must make sure you fill the position in January. Our scout department is working hard to find at least the two players we need, a right midfielder and centre-back.

"I'm confident we will sign the players we want in January because Liverpool are an attractive club to top players. If it's possible to sign more than two players, I will. I still hope Mark Gonzalez will be able to join us in January.

"The four players we signed in the summer give us more quality. We have done some good things, but we know we needed to do more. We've made two mistakes by not signing a right midfielder and a centre-back, but we got four things right with the players we brought in.

"We have a better squad than last year, but I think recent results show we don't have the balance. In some positions we know we need to do something for the future. We are preparing now for the transfer window.

"We tried hard to sign players for the right side and centre-backs, but when you try for one month for one player and then he says no, as in the case of Luis Figo, you have less time to go for the next name on your list. If that player isn't sure if he wants to join you either, you move to the next. You have a responsibility not to spend more than the player is worth.

"We had a lot of names in the summer, but they all proved difficult. I'm confident it will be different in January."