Finnan confident of title push

Liverpool star Steve Finnan is confident the club will seriously push for Premiership honours this season.

Finnan, 31, said: “Going so far in Europe can do a lot for confidence. After we won the 2005 Champions League we ended the next season with 82 points, just one behind runners-up Manchester United.

“We had a real good run that year, putting together 11 clean sheets in a row and finishing with the same number of wins on the bounce.

“Getting so far in Europe is a massive boost for everyone. It generates a lot of excitement around the club.

“I’m sure it will attract a lot of players who will want to join the 2005 European champions and 2007 finalists.

“We’ve also got about four or five weeks off and I hope that will help us start the season well.

“Any extra time can make a difference to the rest and recuperation process, especially for the lads who played in the World Cup last year.”

He added: “When you fall away a little from the front runners in the league, you know that Europe may be your best option.

“That is effectively what happened last season. It shows how important it is to get off to a good start in the league. Hopefully we can do that this time.

“It is all about having the right balance in the squad.

“The club has come on a lot under Rafa Benitez.

“There is no doubt the league title is the main priority for everyone.

“But getting to two European Cup finals in three years isn’t too bad an achievement.

“Add to that the FA Cup and League Cup and that’s four major finals in three years.

“The manager’s record speaks for itself — now it’s up to us to improve our league form.”