Pool take the Raf with the smooth

THE future of Rafa Benitez still dominates life at Anfield, as it has so often over the past half-decade, making the rare appearance of co-owner Tom Hicks at the game on Saturday all the more intriguing.

Was this in response to Benitez talking openly this week of supposed interest from Juventus in his services? Was the unpopular Texan at the game in order to meet his manager and discuss potential transfer targets ahead of the closing of the window today?

It is hard to gauge the answer to such questions, given the lack of forthright – or, in the case of Hicks, any – answers from both parties. It also proved a useless line of post-match inquiry with Benitez, who claimed he had not spoken to Hicks before the game but was not necessarily averse to the idea post-match.

Such is life at this most dysfunctional of Premier League clubs – and that is saying something, incidentally. Yet, amidst this latest chapter in the Rafa saga, it was easy to forget that there was a football game going on, an important one given Liverpool’s indifferent start to 2010.

Goals from Dirk Kuyt, after a good headed assist from Alberto Aquilani, and an own-goal as Kevin Davies deflected in Emiliano Insua’s shot, were ample to bring Liverpool the win, along with a frank admission from goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

The Spaniard refused to use off-field distractions to explain away the players’ poor form this season and, instead, confessed that senior members of the squad, such as himself, Steve Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Javier Mascherano, need to lead by example as speculation once more swirls around Benitez.

“I try. I have been here for five years nearly and I know how the club works, what the supporters expect from us,” said Reina. “The senior players – me, Stevie, Carra, Mascherano – we have to act like an example. We have to stick together. He brought me here and that says it all. You only have to look around the stadium to see what the people think about him.

“There is no point to talk about his future. We just play football. Talking about his future is your job. In tough moments, we have to stick together and work as hard as ever.”

Of course, Benitez was quick to point out that two wins in six this year – which features two dismal FA Cup meetings with Reading – is a statistic that can be massaged into six games unbeaten as far as his team’s league form is concerned, a run that features five clean sheets.

Thus, according to goalscorer Kuyt, the latest round of speculation about Benitez’s future has not left a negative impression on the Anfield dressing room.

“It doesn’t really have an impact on the dressing room. We are just focused on the job,” he said. “We didn’t beat Wolves so we had to make sure we did the job against Bolton. The main thing we spoke about was keeping a clean sheet and that is happening more and more now. We can only focus on football. Not on things that go on outside the pitch.

“As far as I know there is no doubt about the manager’s position. I’ve not heard anything from inside the club to suggest there is any trouble or that the manager could leave.

“When results are no good then the players, manager and everyone involved in the team are going to get a bit of stick.

“Because you are playing for Liverpool you should always be playing for trophies and you should be challenging for the league, so when things don’t go the way you want it is inevitable you will get criticised and people will talk about things other than football.

“What we have done really well is keep working hard to change things. We have been unlucky with a few injuries but players are coming back now and we are getting stronger. ”

Still, there is an unavoidable feeling that Liverpool’s season – in which anything less than fourth place will surely be considered a massive failure – is dangling on a knife edge. Six games unbeaten in the league does not explain away two demoralising performances against Reading or a perfunctory goalless draw at Wolves in January.

All of which makes next weekend’s derby meeting with Everton all the more crucial. “Confidence is really important in the game and we didn’t have that a few weeks ago, but you could see today that as soon as the goals went in our confidence improved,” added Kuyt.

“The derby is very important but so are the points. We can’t afford to lose any more points. Every point is vital now and this was a good win for us that will prepare us well for the derby.”

Bolton manager Owen Coyle saw his side turn in a decent first half hour before crumbling following the opening goal.

Coyle left on-loan Arsenal prospect Jack Wilshere on the bench but still predicts that he – and fellow loanee Vladimir Weiss – can have a big say in keeping Bolton in the top flight.

“I was going to bring Jack on in the second half but then we went 2-0 down and I wanted to bring on another striker,” explained Coyle. “Both he and Vladimir can have a big part to play for us. They’re not the finished article – which is why they are not in the first teams at Arsenal and Man City. But there is no shame in that and they have great careers ahead of them.”

MATCH RATING ** – There were enough moments, and attacks, of interest to keep the match from being a complete bore but Bolton’s lack of competitiveness for much of it did not make for a classic.

REFEREE: Steve Bennett: 6 – A couple of bookings seemed over-fussy and Owen Coyle claimed he made a mistake for Liverpool’s second. But otherwise, competent.