Rafael Benítez has received the endorsement of the Liverpool co-owner, George Gillett, after a run of poor results.
George Gillett last night responded to growing pressure on Rafael Benítez by assuring the Liverpool manager that he retains the unequivocal support of the club's American owners.
Benítez is experiencing the most fraught on-field period of his six seasons in charge of Liverpool after a run of four successive defeats, the club's first since 1987, left them seven points behind Manchester United in the Premier League and under serious threat of elimination from the Champions League group stage.
Gillett was at Anfield on Tuesday as Lyon inflicted a stoppage-time defeat on Liverpool and faced angry remonstrations from several fans after César Delgado's winner. His co-owner, Tom Hicks, is expected to run a similar gauntlet on Sunday when Sir Alex Ferguson's champions arrive at Anfield. Despite the despondency around Liverpool and the first serious stirrings of discontent towards Benítez among the club's support, Gillett, who once sought to replace the Spaniard with Jürgen Klinsmann, insists there is no question of the manager's position being under threat.
Asked if his support for Benítez remained intact, Gillett said: "Absolutely. We have just entered into a long-term agreement with Rafa. Our family is extraordinarily pleased with him, we think he is absolutely as good as there is in the business and I am sure the Hicks [family] feel the same way. We just extended his contract."
Benítez signed an improved contract in March that committed him to Liverpool until 2014 and, though Gillett insists his backing is based purely on coaching ability, it would cost the club over £20m to pay up the remaining four and a half years of the manager's deal. Hicks and Gillett are also unlikely to risk fresh instability at Anfield at a time when they are independently seeking to attract new investors.
"I think the run of results disappoints everybody," Gillett added. "Certainly, it disappoints the fans and it disappoints Rafa. I know he is disappointed. We are all disappointed but we are in this together. I think we all saw the same thing [that Benítez looked downbeat following the Lyon defeat] but that's not something I am going to comment on publicly."
Gillett claimed he and Hicks are allowing for improvement through "being supportive. Which I am and which Tom is." He refused, though, to indicate whether new investment is on its way to assist Benítez in the January transfer window. "I don't think that is something I am prepared to comment on at the moment," the Liverpool co-owner said.
Benítez's preparations for the United game have also been undermined by a succession of injuries to key players, with Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson and Albert Riera all missing the Lyon game through groin and hamstring problems and Steven Gerrard limping out after 25 minutes having aggravated an adductor strain. All four will continue to receive intensive treatment ahead of Sunday with Gerrard and Riera the main doubts.
"I think I will be all right for Sunday," said Johnson. "We haven't tested it today, just soft tissue work and massage, but it seems a lot freer than it did." The England defender added: "I think Nando [Torres] might be all right for Sunday but I am not too sure about Stevie."
There was one important injury breakthrough for Benítez last night, however, when Alberto Aquilani made his first appearance in a Liverpool shirt since his £20m summer move from Roma. The Italian midfielder, signed to compensate for the loss of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, has not made a senior start as a result of ankle surgery in May. He last made a competitive appearance for Roma in March.
Aquilani came off the bench for Liverpool's reserves in the 75th minute of their 2–0 win against Sunderland reserves at Prenton Park, but is unlikely to feature on Sunday. The midfielder's rehabilitation may continue with a first senior appearance next week when Liverpool face Arsenal in the Carling Cup fourth round.
