Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez insists his team can live with Arsenal and Manchester United in the Premier League title race despite being 10 points off the pace.
Benitez has had his toughest season since arriving from Valencia in 2004 with a difference of opinion over the January transfer window seemingly causing a rift between him and the club's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
"In my mind there is no doubt we have a better squad now than twelve months ago, we have more quality all over the pitch and I am convinced we are continuing to take the club in the right direction," Benitez told www.liverpool.tv.
"It has been a year which has seen us again qualify for the Champions League through our league position, we've reached another European final and of course we have recently booked our place in the last 16 of this season's competition.
"We have been able to improve the squad by bringing in a number of top-class players, all of whom have shown their ability and their desire to play for this great club."