Rafael BenÍtez is not the type to dwell long on failure and, sure enough, the Liverpool manager could be found looking to the future last night, talking about the need to make big strides in the transfer market this summer even as AC Milan’s rowdy celebrations were held in the dressing-room just around the corner.

Specifically, BenÍtez talked of the need to make “not just one step forward but two steps forward”, to compete with Manchester United and Chelsea on the domestic front next season, a clear indication that the pace of change at Anfield this summer will be rapid.

Tom Hicks, one of the club’s American co-owners, had alluded to a busy summer ahead for the Spaniard and with at least six members of last night’s 18-man squad likely to be available for transfer, BenÍtez did not hesitate to emphasise the importance of reinforcing his squad.

“My first idea is to support my players because I think that they worked really hard and they did their best,” BenÍtez said. “But afterwards you need to think about the future and we know that we need to improve and that we can improve. If we can improve, we can be contenders, but we really need to go forward.

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Background

• Luck runs out for Liverpool

• Dreams lie in ruins for Liverpool

• No way back for Liverpool

• How the teams rated

• Flood of forged tickets deepens fans' trauma

Multimedia

• European Cup Final 2007

• AC Milan v Liverpool clockwatch

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“Really we need more than one step at a time. The players are working really hard, but maybe it’s not easy to achieve more things. And if we want to be close to United and Chelsea or have another chance in the Champions League, we need to go maybe two steps at a time.”

The inference was clear: that his squad has overachieved in reaching two Champions League finals in three seasons and that it is not realistic to expect that success to continue without significant reinforcements.

In particular, BenÍtez is desperate to sign a top-class centre forward. Samuel Eto’o, of Barcelona, is top of his wanted list – as well as that of Manchester United – but he is unlikely to be attainable. Fernando Torres, of Atlético Madrid, may be a more feasible target, but realistically BenÍtez may be looking at players such as Darren Bent, of Charlton Athletic, Vincenzo Iaquinta, of Udinese, Amauri, of Palermo – or, a little more tantalisingly, Michael Owen, the Liverpool old boy who is restless at Newcastle United.

Having given Peter Crouch only 12 minutes last night and kept Craig Bellamy on the bench throughout, BenÍtez could hardly have been any clearer in outlining the limitations of his forward line. He referred to the quality that Milan had from their two attacking players, Kaká and Filippo Inzaghi, seemingly in contrast to that provided by his own team. He is an ardent admirer of Dirk Kuyt – and Jermaine Pennant’s performance on the right wing was a source of encouragement for next season – but the manager knows that greater quality is required.

Bellamy seems certain to be open to offers after a disappointing first season at Anfield, with Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers having signalled their interest, and there are strong indications that the same will apply to Crouch. Robbie Fowler, the fourth centre forward in the travelling party, knew before last night that he would be departing when his contract expires on June 30, although his omission from the 18-man squad will have come as an unwelcome leaving present.

Mark González, the Chile winger, is another seemingly on his way out, having failed to adjust to English football, while there are growing rumours of interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona in Xabi Alonso, pending his decision on whether to sign a new contract at Anfield.

Alonso is one of several players who have been offered new contracts, with Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher likely to be the first to put pen to paper in the coming days.

“At the moment my heart is in two pieces,” Gerrard said. “It’s the lowest moment of my career, but it’s how you bounce back from setbacks that counts. It’s all about picking ourselves up and bouncing back and making sure that we’re a better team next season.” BenÍtez would echo that.