Benitez wants to call Reds truce

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez wants to reconcile his differences with club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, BBC Sport understands.

But the Spaniard's attempts at a truce may be too late after he openly criticised the duo for holding up his transfer plans.

Hicks and Gillett have said they will meet with Benitez in mid-December.

A source close to Benitez told the Liverpool Echo newspaper: "Rafa loves it at Liverpool."

News conference: Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez

The source said Benitez would not walk away from Anfield adding: "He loves the people of the city, he loves the fans and he loves the club. All he wants is what's best for the fans - he gets frustrated when he feels he's not able to do that.

"But he is happy with Tom and George owning the club and he has enjoyed working with them since he came and he has no problem working with (chief executive) Rick (Parry).

"All he wants is to be able to continue the job that he's started so he can continue improving the squad in a bid to deliver the title he knows Tom, George and Rick want just as badly as he does.

"The manager has got a few transfers that he wants to get done, one in January and two Bosmans in the summer but it looks like he is going to miss out on the first one now.

"That frustrated him because the first one was a centre half, a position he feels we really need back-up in.

"The frustration stems from the fact that communication has been so difficult with everyone being so far apart and in different time zones.

"But the fans should be reassured Rafa has no plans of walking away. He loves it here and his family are settled on Merseyside."

The Reds need to win their last two Champions League games, starting against Porto on Wednesday, to progress to the knockout stages and earn the financial rewards that would follow.

Hicks and Gillett will hold talks with Benitez when the club's position is clearer on this front but it has been made clear where Benitez stands in terms of his future at Anfield.

"Rafa only wants to work for Liverpool," added the source. "It wasn't that long ago that Rafa was thanking Tom, George and Rick for the work that they had done to bring Fernando Torres to Liverpool.

"He is still grateful for that and hopes that there has been no lasting damage done.

"He is hoping this situation can be resolved."

Hicks and Gillett released a statement on the club's official website late on Sunday to dampen speculation about Benitez's position.

"Despite speculation there is nothing new to say," said the statement.

"We had a good win on Saturday and have got some very important games coming up starting with Porto on Wednesday, followed by Bolton and Reading, before Marseille and Manchester United in a few weeks.

"Both of us, together with chief executive Rick Parry, plan to meet with Rafa when we come over mid-December to make decisions on the team's requirements at that time."

Source: BBC Sport