Liverpool dropped more points in the Premier League title race following a 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Sunday.
Benitez's side sit seven points behind United
Liverpool provided a snapshot of their season on Sunday as they dropped more points in the Premier League title race following a 1-1 draw with Manchester City.
Build-up to the fixture had been overshadowed by fresh speculation that Reds boss Rafa Benitez is still refusing to sign a new deal offered by the club's hierarchy, sparking rumours the former Valencia chief could be ready to walk away in the summer.
And Benitez - whose next fixture is against Real Madrid, a club understood to be keen on his services, in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday - saw his side do little in an uninspiring first half to deflect from the rumours or suggest they were set to reduce Manchester United's eight-point lead at the top of the table.
Liverpool have infamously struggled in the first 45 minutes of games this campaign and have been forced to come from behind on numerous occasions after dominating games, memorably against City at Eastlands in October.
And the Reds again found themselves behind to City as Craig Bellamy returned to haunt his former employers, netting via a deflection off Alvaro Arbeloa in the 51st minute.
Liverpool fought back as Dirk Kuyt prodded a 78th minute equaliser from Yossi Benayoun's cross, but Benitez's men could not find a winner to leave them sitting seven points behind United.
Liverpool made four changes from the side that won at Portsmouth last time out. There was still no Steven Gerrard with his hamstring injury, while Lucas Leiva, back from suspension, Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Albert Riera returned to the starting line-up in place of Ryan Babel, David Ngog, Fabio Aurelio and Daniel Agger.
City - who have won away only once this season - made one enforced change from the side that drew 2-2 at FC Copenhagen in the Uefa Cup on Thursday, Nigel de Jong replacing the suspended Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Despite being under plenty of early pressure, Shay Given was rarely called into action for the visitors, who will have pleased boss Mark Hughes with their performance.
Intense pressure
Riera headed wide from an Arbeloa cross, under intense pressure from Micah Richards. Then Jamie Carragher's long ball down the right was touched on by Benayoun for Torres to fire wide first time.
Kuyt was next away on the right, with Richard Dunne clearing the near post cross from Riera's toes, while both Lucas and Benayoun failed to connect with crosses.
The pressure mounted and Kuyt drove wide after being set up by Torres before Richards then chested away a Riera hook in the six-yard box.
City had weathered Liverpool's early fire and eased their way into the game. They should have scored after 30 minutes when Andrea Dossena lost possession and the ball was switched immediately to Robinho.
The little Brazilian had been very quiet in the early stages, but he jinked inside to lay a pass invitingly into Stephen Ireland's stride.
The Irishman had a free run at Jose Reina, but the Spanish keeper blocked the first shot, with Ireland firing the rebound into the side netting.
Torres set up Riera and Benayoun, both chances flying wide before Kuyt missed with a far-post header to end a frustrating half for Liverpool.
Four minutes into the second period, City were ahead. Robinho fed the ball into the box for Vincent Kompany to turn it into the path of Bellamy.
And the ex-Liverpool forward struck a 51st-minute shot from the corner of
