Parry: No rush on Gerrard contract

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Rafael Benitez's men will play in the Champions League final later this month but Parry admits there will need to be strengthening if they are to also compete domestically.

Liverpool say they are in no hurry to tie up Steven Gerrard's new contract

Benitez is expecting to bolster his squad and build a team around Gerrard, who is in negotiations over a new contract to keep him at the club for his entire career.

"We're as keen as ever," said Parry on BBC Five Live's Sportsweek. "It's always been our aim to keep Steven at the club for the rest of his career. In no way has that diminished.

"He's ambitious and wants us to be winning trophies so the more successful we are and the more finals we are in, the happier he will be in the long term.

"We're not putting a timescale on it. We're keen to do it, he's keen to do it and it will get done. What we're focusing on now is the final."

Liverpool have the chance to win two Champions League titles in three years but they slipped behind the pace in the Premiership and are 21 points behind leaders Manchester United going into the final week of the season.

Parry hopes to be competing at the summit soon, adding: "It's where we and our supporters want to be. We will continue to strive for the title.

"We have improved the squad year on year, clearly again we've fallen a little short and are not quite there.

"We will continue to try to strengthen. It's not about big names or small names, it's about players to improve the squad, it's all about quality."

Liverpool face AC Milan in the Champions League final in Athens, a repeat of the 2005 final when Benitez's men famously came from 3-0 behind to win on penalties.

"We have a better team and a stronger squad than 2005," said Parry. "That win will never leave the memories of those who were there but it's a different game. Our initial aim is not to be 3-0 down at half-time this time."

Their run to the final has been part of an auspicious start to the reign of new American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, who Parry believes are realising what they have bought into.

"I think they understood the passion and the atmosphere before they took over, but if they didn't then they certainly do now," he said.

"They feel it and believe it as much as possible."