His uncertain future after nearly four seasons was on the agenda, as co-chairmen Tom Hicks and George Gillett met in Manhattan on Tuesday with Reds' chief executive Rick Parry.

Meanwhile, reports that German Jurgen Klinsmann is to be sounded out about replacing him surfaced.

Although Benitez is known to be pessimistic about his prospects of staying at Anfield beyond this season, he has tried to distance himself from weekend reports that he had 'told friends' he expects to be sacked.

He feels that a private conversation with Sunday newspaper journalists last Friday was taken out of context. He is distressed that it has led to suspicions within the club that he regards himself as a lame-duck manager or that he is already looking for a new job, reported The Times.

'I don't know how many times I have to say I only see my future at Liverpool before certain people believe me,' Benitez told the Liverpool Echo.

'But I will say it again - I love the club, I love the fans, I love the city and I am very, very happy here.

'I do not see my future at Real Madrid or Inter Milan. So to see my name linked with other clubs really disappoints me.

'And the fact that the newspapers said that the stories come from a source close to me is what disappoints me most.

'The backing of the supporters has been fantastic. The squad are now the best they have been since I first came here and we have many young players who are only going to get better.'

Liverpool are fourth in the Premier League, 12 points behind leaders Arsenal.

They face a tough meeting with Inter Milan in the next round of the Champions League after finishing second in a seemingly straightforward group.

The last four games would have lost Benitez much of the support from fans.

The 2-1 last-gasp win against Derby was embarrassing, but that was followed by draws against Manchester City and relegation-threatened Wigan.

Then, in the 1-1 draw on Sunday, Liverpool were overrun at times in the FA Cup by Luton, who are 21st in League One, two divisions below the Premier League.

Once again, Benitez's rotation policy backfired, proving that unlike Manchester United and Arsenal, Liverpool do not have a squad that can afford to drop a couple of big names and still pull through.