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Reds owners restate stance

Image: Hicks and Gillett: Mid-December meeting

Liverpool owners say a meeting between them and Rafa Benitez will not take place until mid-December.

Gillett and Hicks to meet with Benitez over mid-December

Liverpool co-chairmen George Gillett and Tom Hicks have confirmed that a meeting between them and manager Rafa Benitez will not take place until mid-December. The Reds manager is unhappy at the duo's lack of urgency, with the Spaniard keen to tie down potential targets sooner rather than later. Benitez is concerned that a lack of movement straight away means the club risk losing out to rival clubs. However, a statement on the club's official website has confirmed that a meeting with Hicks, Gillett, chief executive Ricky Parry and Benitez will take place over mid December. "Despite speculation in today's [Sunday] newspapers, there is nothing new to say," the statement read. "We had a good win yesterday 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.

Decisions

"Both of us, together with Rick Parry, plan to meet with Rafa when we come over mid-December to make decisions on the team's requirements at that time." Reports in the British press claim that Benitez's relationship with Hicks and Gillett has broken down and that he could soon be set to leave Anfield. Benitez called on the pair to back him with funding in the summer and they responded, allowing the club to recruit the likes of Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun at a combined cost of around £45million. Former Valencia boss Benitez has been in charge at Anfield since 2004 and has twice guided the club to the Champions League final, winning it in 2005. They also won the FA Cup in 2006 but the club's wait for a first title since 1990 continues. They are currently six points behind Barclays Premier League leaders Arsenal and face a crucial Champions League group game against Porto on Wednesday, when defeat could end their hopes of reaching the last 16.

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