Houllier looks at 'improvements'

LIVERPOOL manager Gerard Houllier had indicated that a few staff changes could be made in the summer after The Reds' exit from the Champions League at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen.

The recent purchase of John Arne Riise and Jerzy Dudek coupled with the loan signing of Nicolas Anelka have helped the Merseysiders progress at home and abroad but their French manager recognises a few top-class players are still required in the Anfield stable.

"A lot of improvements have been made. But maybe at some stage we need players who will bring a bit more to the team," conceded Houllier.

The purse strings are set to be loosed for the ex-PSG chief next season and a number of high-profile targets such as Auxerre sensation Djibril Cisse, Patrick Kluivert and Jonathan Zebina are just a few of the names mentioned in the media.

Houllier's admission that improvements need to be made will have a number of Reds stars looking over their shoulder a la Sander Westerveld with the French supremo renowned for being ruthless in his quest for glory.

Czech pair Patrick Berger and Vladimir Smicer have not been at their best this season and could be set to be shown the Anfield door along with fringe players Bernard Diomede, Nick Barmby, Gary McAllister, Igor Biscan, Vegard Heggem and Jamie Redknapp.