Reports in the national press on Tuesday morning suggested Benitez’s contract talks were in danger of collapse because of the Spaniard’s apparent demand to have total control of Liverpool’s transfer policy.

Benitez found himself in a power struggle with American duo Tom Hicks and George Gillet last season over his future, but he insists there is no trouble on the horizon with the pair.

“My agent only received the draft document of my contract on Monday evening so my surprise is that some journalists can talk about there being problems before I have even read it properly and discussed it,” Benitez told the Liverpool Echo.

“We have agreed the length of contract and we have agreed the salary. Now we have to discuss my role and my responsibilities as manager of the club.

“But we haven’t had the opportunity to do that yet.

“Someone has information and clearly wants to create a mess, but I haven’t discussed anything yet because, as I say, the contract only arrived on Monday night.

“I don’t have any problems at all with the American owners.”

The Reds chief also rejected rumours that he was set to go head-to-head with Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson again for the signing of Brazilian defender Anderson.

Both Liverpool and United have been credited with an interest in the Fluminense ace, but Benitez has denied Anderson is on his list of transfer targets.

“That is not true,” added Benitez. “We are not trying to sign that player.”

football365.com

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has been plastered all over the headlines in recent times, but more for his tactical decisions off the pitch than on it.

The Spaniard stunned England last week when he unleashed a stinging tirade at Sir Alex Ferguson, claiming that the Manchester United boss was unpunishable despite constantly complaining about referees and fixture lists and so on.

Some have suggested that this ploy could work against the Reds, particularly after their frustrating draw against Stoke City at the weekend.

But Fernando Torres, Benitez’s star recruit, has insisted that the entire squad is behind the gaffer.

“He thinks he had to say those things about Ferguson and he has our support, we are with our manager,” the 24-year-old said in The Guardian.

And why wouldn’t they back a man who has led Liverpool to undoubtedly their best-ever start to a Premier League campaign?

Even after Saturday’s stalemate in Staffordshire, the Merseyside giants hold a four-point lead as they chase their long-awaited 19th English championship.

And Torres reckons there is no manager on the planet who is more capable of bringing to title back to Anfield, pointing to his exploits in Spain.

“Of course [Benítez] is as good as anyone,” the European Championship winner said. “He can compete with anyone, he won the Spanish league with Valencia after 15 years [their first title in 31 years, actually].

“Real Madrid and Barcelona were fighting for the title and he arrived in his first season and won the title. This is very difficult in Spain. Now he has to do the same thing with Liverpool.”

Mike Maguire, Goal.com