Brendan Rodgers is convinced good business in the summer transfer window can help Liverpool launch a concerted top-four challenge next season.
Rodgers was encouraged by a strong finish to the previous campaign with the Anfield outfit losing only two of their final 16 Premier League matches.
The Northern Irishman expects a business period during the next few months as he looks to further bolster a squad he readily accepts is lacking strength in depth.
Ivory Coast centre-back Kolo Toure has already agreed to join on a free transfer from Manchester City while Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas underwent a medical yesterday ahead of completing a £7million transfer.
And Rodgers said: "What we have shown last season is promise. There have been moments of disappointment and moments of delight but when I look at the reality of it we scored 47 goals last year and this time got 71 - and we hope to add to that amount.
"Defensively for a team that was supposed very strong last year we've only conceded three more goals so in terms of numbers and performance wise then we have improved.
"I believe we will improve again and we have to because we want to sustain a challenge. I think we can do but it will be a tough ask because as we improve other clubs will have masses more money to improve also.
"But I believe we have built a real good base this year. It's not my job to look for excuses, I have to find the solutions to try and push us in there and I believe we won't be too far away."
Asked if there was more pressure on him from Fenway Sports Group to challenge for Champions League qualification next season, Rodgers added: "It's no different to how I'd see it. I'm not here to be comfortable and sit and earn the money and just enjoy being the Liverpool manager.
"There's a pressure that comes with it. And I believe we're in a much better place to do that."
Liverpool are also hopeful of securing a deal for highly-rated 20-year-old Sporting Lisbon defender Tiago Ilori and are also waiting to make a move for Sevilla midfielder Luis Alberto, should Barcelona not take up their option on the Spaniard.
With Rodgers also tracking Armenia international attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Shakhtar Donetsk, the Anfield manager is keen to encourage more goals into the squad.
"I haven't got an exact number of players I want to bring in, but naturally we need some centre-halves and I'm looking to bring 20 more goals into the team," he said.
"So I'm also looking at another offensive player to give us a real threat on goal and another attacking midfield player. We definitely need to do that, especially if we're going to put some young ones out on loan to gain experience.
"But it's not easy when you can't make mistakes. We want to keep the acceleration and pushing on so this is a very important window for us in the summer.
"We have to do our best to make it right because the players who need to come in have to be effective right form the off."
Source: Daily Post
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