[Mighty T.A.L.]

Rafa names players who face axe

Liverpool were defeated in last night's Champions League final, despite looking like the best team for large portions of the match.

Rafa Benitez has wasted no time in announcing which players will be on the move. Whilst Liverpool have progressed significantly in Europe over recent years, the cost of this has been their title challenge, finishing some 21 points behind the Champions, Manchester United, this season.

Mark Gonzalez, who Rafa signed last season, and Boudewijn Zenden, who was signed the season before, are the two players mentioned as moving on.

"We must not waste this moment," said Benitez. "We must move quickly to sign our number one targets.

"If we wait we will be chasing the players who are second and third on our list. We need to change the structure of the club on and off the pitch.

"We must make progress, and make it now to take us up two or three levels straight away.

"There will be several players leaving," he added, with Gonzalez tipped to join Real Betis. "We will wait for offers.

"We have a deal nearly completed for Gonzalez and I have told Bolo that he can talk to other clubs. We know the situation we have now."

Source: footballexpo.com