Liverpool Football Club News

• Nickname:Reds
• Founded:1892
• Manager:Kenny Dalglish

• Ground:Anfield
• Capacity:45,362

Alonso expecting Benitez stay

06 Feb 2009 - 09:29:52

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Liverpool's Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso has backed manager Rafa Benitez as the man to take the Reds forward, with renewed problems with the club's owners having surfaced.

Benitez is currently in negotiations over a new contract at Anfield, but talks have stalled over his desire to have full control of the club's transfer dealings.

However, Alonso is confident that a compromise can be reached between Benitez and co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

He told The Sun: "The owners and Rafa seem to be involved in a tug of war.

"Even if they are trying to resolve it for the better of the club, there is no question in my mind when you have the right man for the job, securing his continuity is important.

"We've been through our bad moments but constant change, or change for the sake of it, isn't a good thing at a club like this.

"It's a subject between Rafa and the owners and the team must not let it affect us at any cost, but my personal bet is Rafa will stay with Liverpool.

"When he came here, Liverpool had a massive history but they had lost competitiveness compared to the other European greats.

"From his arrival to now, you can feel the progress and that he's put Liverpool back where they once were - among Europe's greats and aspiring to win everything we enter."