Rafael Benitez is looking beyond Liverpool's FA Cup final date to an assault on Chelsea's Premiership title next season, insisting: "We are closer now than for a long while."
The Liverpool boss knows that after Saturday's match against West Ham he must make the right decisions in the transfer market to give the Anfield club an opportunity to build on the past two campaigns.
A Champions League triumph, a runners-up spot in last season's Carling Cup, plus European Super Cup success, have been followed by this season's third place in the Barclays Premiership.
Benitez is gearing up for his first taste of managing in an FA Cup final.
But winning the league - or at least competing for it right to the death - is the target as the Spaniard prepares to spend an expected £30million transfer pot.
With league glory in mind, Benitez said: "We're a lot closer, and now we need to make the right decisions for the future. The next step we have to take is the most difficult."
Liverpool still hope to have Xabi Alonso fit for Saturday's climax to the season.
Alonso has become an integral member of the team, following his summer 2004 switch from Real Sociedad, and Benitez will be looking to make more successful signings in the same vein.
"This is a time when we must be careful with our decisions," said the Reds boss.
"When I talk with (chief executive) Rick Parry and the chairman (David Moores), they know we are closer now than we've been in a long time.
"They have more experience than me of what's happened at the club and they know we must be careful with new signings. We know the areas where we need to sign the right players.
"I know we can improve. That's the sensation I feel now. With the players we have, and by signing the right players, we will be better.
"Other clubs will be looking to improve, too, and we need to be aware of what they do to make sure if they improve their squad a little, we improve even more."
Liverpool completed the season just nine points behind champions Chelsea, a huge improvement on last season's margin of 37 points.
Benitez said: "The gap between ourselves and the top was nine points in the end, but that's not a very clear reflection because over the last games it's difficult to say Chelsea would have made the same selections if they'd needed the points.
"I never had a points target in mind at the start of the season. We just thought of improving with every game and correcting our mistakes.
"Every summer is important in terms of signing players, but now I know my team better and the qualities of every player, and we know what to do to keep one step ahead."
