BENITEZ BACKING REDS TO IMPROVE

Rafael Benitez has vowed Liverpool will soon step up through the gears after watching his side scrape into the group stages of the Champions League.

Despite reeling off consecutive victories over Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Standard Liege since the start of the season Benitez accepts his players are still not firing on all cylinders - but he insists their quality will soon shine through. "We will get better little by little, by the time the group games come around, we will be ready," he said. "It is not easy when you have the pre-season we have had. When sometimes you are missing 10 players for a variety of reasons, internationals or the Olympics. "Then you have two or three players returning one week, then the next week there are more. (Fernando) Torres, (Alvaro) Arbeloa, (Jose) Reina and (Xabi) Alonso all returned late for training because of Euro 2008. Then there were three returning from the Olympics; (Ryan) Babel first, then Lucas, then (Javier) Mascherano. "But now we have seen Mascherano win the gold medal and Liverpool have reached the Champions League group stage. So it has all been very positive in the end. "Now we have the players back and the confidence that we need to be successful this season." He added: "We will continue to improve, we will be completely ready as a team when the group stages start. "Up until now we have been preparing for every game missing four or five players each time. "Now, after a few players have returned, we will improve with each match. Little by little we will improve to be ready for the big matches that will come." And the Reds boss is hopeful he will succeed in strengthening his squad before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month. Benitez says: "We are working to try to improve the squad. It is not easy to bring in too many players at this stage with the window coming to an end. Maybe just the one will be all we can manage. "We have been working and trying to improve the squad, without thinking of the money from the Champions League. "We can progress if we have options, but now with this money maybe it will be easier. "For us it is important to be playing for trophies, but of course the money is important. But if you can win games like this it gives you the opportunity for more money, we understand that."