Benitez keen to kickstart Reds talks

RAFA BENITEZ hopes to have clear-the-air talks with Liverpool’s US owners before the Premier League showdown with Manchester United next month.

The Anfield boss, with his position strengthened by the Champions League victory over Porto, experienced a week of acrimony with owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett that threatened his job.

Benitez had been told by the US sports moguls they would not discuss transfers until they made their next trip to Merseyside for the clash with Alex Ferguson’s men on December 16.

That is after Liverpool’s last group match in Marseille and would leave Benitez precious little time to plan ahead for the January transfer window. But Benitez, while being careful not to upset the Americans with his transfer kitty demands, revealed last night:

“I would hope to speak to the owners before the United game. I don’t know if it is possible but we will try.”

Benitez said: “My relationship with them (US owners) was good before. Now we need to talk about what the problem was and move on.

“Maybe my English is not that good, maybe that was the problem. But it is clear we have to understand the situation and talk.

“We must decide what is best for the future of the club, we can manage that. I prefer only to say that as a manager you can only think about your squad. So January is nearly here and next summer is close also.

“So you must do your job, and I was trying to do this. I want to talk, it is easier to talk face to face rather than send e-mails or by phone.”

Benitez added: “The team is my responsibility. I can stay around and at the end of the month just go collect my wages. But I cannot be like that, I want to improve my team and squad. That is what I was trying to do. But I can only repeat that I do not have any personal problems with the owners.”