Rafael Benitez says his Liverpool squad will be "hungrier" for trophies next season, as he looks to end the club's 19-year wait for the league title.

As Manchester United snatched their seventh Premier League title in ten years to move within one of Liverpool's record of 18, the Anfield club ended their second successive season empty handed. However, Benitez believes a season of adversity will only mean his players come back stronger next season.

"We will be hungrier next season," Benitez said. "Clearly, we are winners and want to win silverware every year. We have not done that for two seasons so we will be looking to improve again in order to try and deliver something for our supporters next time. This club is all about winning things so we are disappointed not to have picked up any trophies this season."

The Spaniard believes ending their dreadful recent run against the champions could be the key to transforming the club's title fortunes.

"If you beat Manchester United once it results in a six-point swing either way and that can be the difference," he said. "Clearly, just one team can win the league, so it doesn't really matter if you are three, six, nine or 11 points behind as we are this season. It is not a massive difference. It may just come down to one game over the course of a season.

"The key for me is knowing there is a difference between us and the three teams above us and that we must now reduce this gap. It was not massive this season. We came closer than last season. Hopefully next season we will be closer again, maybe even on top of them."

Benitez has so far made just one summer signing, Philipp Degen from Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer, and he may have to sell if he is to continue the overhaul of the squad. Reports in Italy this morning suggested Xabi Alonso could be on the brink of a £12 million move to Juventus. Sources at Anfield have declined to comment on reports that there has been contact between the two clubs, after rumours that Jean-Claude Blanc, the Juventus director, was on Merseyside yesterday for a meeting with Benitez.