Source: Telegraph
Liverpool need new stadium to compete with Manchester United says Rafael Benitez
Construction work on Anfield's 60,000-seat replacement was halted last year as Tom Hicks and George Gillett said financing the project had been made more difficult due to the global financial crisis and downturn.
Another issue for Liverpool's American owners is that they must refinance a loan of around £250 million from Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia by July.
"On an economic level we cannot fight with the other big teams, at least for now, in particular because of the stadium," Benitez said. "Old Trafford has 76,000 seats, the Emirates has 60,000, Chelsea can count on Abramovich.
"Until we have a new stadium, we will not be able to compete economically. In the meantime we'll have to do things very well to be competitive."
Shirt sponsor Carlsberg, the Danish brewer, said last week that it was interested in buying the naming rights to the new stadium in Stanley Park, which is adjacent to Anfield.
Liverpool's pursuit of its first title since 1990 was ended on Saturday when Manchester United matched its north west rival's record haul of 18 championships.
But second-placed Liverpool, who beat West Brom 2-0 on Sunday, have finally established themselves as a threat to United, beating Alex Ferguson's team twice this season, including a 4-1 rout at Old Trafford.
"We have to first consolidate the level we have reached. We have a better squad now, a structure that works better with very capable people that have a huge amount of desire," Benitez said. "That will bear fruit in the future.
"I have a five-year contract with the power to take decisions, to do things the way I think they should be done, which guarantees, despite the difficulty of the English league, the possibility to be in the race for titles," Benitez said.
