Purslow - Benitez's job is safe

Managing director offers financial reassurances in wake of Euro exit

Last updated: 25th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Purslow - Benitez's job is safe

Benitez: Job is safe

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Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow has told Rafa Benitez that his job is safe despite the elimination from the UEFA Champions League.

The Reds won 1-0 at Debrecen on Tuesday, but Fiorentina succeeded against Lyon in Florence to join the French side in progressing from Group E to the last 16.

Liverpool will therefore take an on and off-field hit as a result of slipping into the Europa League, while a place in next season's Champions League is far from certain amidst domestic struggles.

But Benitez is not facing the sack, according to Purslow, with late goals in a defeat and draw to Lyon earlier in the competition meaning Liverpool were already facing a tough task to qualify prior to events in Budapest.

Purslow told Sky Sports 2: "You can never predict last-minute goals, which have cost us dear in the Champions League. That's no basis to make managerial decisions.

"We don't run our business in that respect. I'm on the record as saying Rafa's signed a new five-year contract, he's four months into that contract so to discuss that is not appropriate."

Purslow has also offered financial reassurances by insisting that Liverpool co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks have budgeted for failure in the Champions League.

Asked about the monetary impact, he said: "It's limited actually. Assuming we have a reasonable run in the Europa League then we are financially neutral for this year."

Comments (55)

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Martin Deakins (Manchester United fan) says...

The only problem I have with Rafa/Liverpool, is the reliance on Gerrard and Torres. Man Utd & Chelsea both have their big name, main-man players but the rest of the squad can do the job perfectly. Liverpool, with Torres & Gerrard not fit, are a bit toothless. No manger always has good seasons, if Liverpool are serious about mounting continuous title challenges, the board need to let the manager have the inevitable blips and continue to build his squad. Man Utd certainly wouldn't be such a success if Fergie had been sacked for having a rubbish season!!

Posted 11:36 25th November 2009

Marie Fawcett (Charlton Athletic fan) says...

I know I'm a Charlton fan, but my boyfriend is a big, big red and so I follow Liverpool's progress too and all I can say is that it's so frustrating watching Liverpool this season. I do believe that they rely on Gerrard and Torres too much at times, but I also believe that Liverpool are capable of beating most teams on their day with or without those 2 players. (Look at the recent win against Manchester United!!!) I also find it ironic that there are Man Utd fans on here suggesting that Gerrard and Torres should leave. Little touch of the green eyed monster I feel. These 2 players do deserve better, yes, but they are loyal and commited to winning things with Liverpool. The fans deserve better too, they are the most loyal set of supporters I've ever seen, and being a Charlton season ticket holder, I've seen them all!! But I can't decide if Rafa is totally to blame. He had made some awful decisions during matches, but the players are not blameless. Carra (who I love by the way) has been awful on occassions, and I'm sure Gerrard will admit he's been under par too at times. So it's a joint effort. Injuries have been rife, which isn't rafa's fault and I understand the fans want more, but bringing in someone new could make things worse. It will take time to establish a team for a new manager and Gerrard isn't getting any younger. It's a tough situation, but I think that only a big club like Liverpool can cope with it and will. Whatever is decided about Rafa, Liverpool will be back -I have every faith.

Posted 11:36 25th November 2009

Marc Gerolimatos (Liverpool fan) says...

Stuff that Purslow, sack rafa, he's had his chance and proved only one thing - he can't win the title. That's the only thing the fans want at the moment. Hopefully someone will buy the club and pay Rafa off and then we can bring in a good manager by the name of Hiddink. Let rafa go and mess up another club with £229m. bye bye rafa, always knew the Champions league win was a complete fluke.

Posted 11:35 25th November 2009

Kevin Shepherd (Liverpool fan) says...

Yes Neil Harvey, I'm so pleased to know I'm not alone in my opinion!

Posted 11:34 25th November 2009

Lloyd Pather (Manchester United fan) says...

I think that there are far too many fickle people out there. Rafa Benitez is a very good coach/manager. He managed to take a group of average players and teamed them up with four or five skillful or influential players and gave the top four teams in the premier league a good run for their money. Unfortunately for Liverpool the writing was on the wall from last season, they lack strenght in depth(size and quality of their squad). What I like about Rafa Benitez is that he appears to be a similar manger to Sir Alex, He uses his resources well, tactically very good and he learns from his mistakes. I think he will prove himself if he is given the time and the means to do so

Posted 11:22 25th November 2009

Tim Hawkins=wright (Liverpool fan) says...

I am a Liverpool supporter and have been for thirty years, The club has been here before and unfortunatly I dont Trust Rafa enough in the transfer market. He brought Aqualiani for £20 mi;llion and dosent play him??? I believe Rafa is the man but someone needs to help in the transfer market because he has made to many mistakes

Posted 11:18 25th November 2009

Andy Hamilton (Southampton fan) says...

I agree with Stephen. Liverpool have no cash and can't afford to sack Rafa as they would have to pay up his contract. That is the only reason he has kept his job. The trouble is, with no money in the background; the owners are suffering from the credit crunch blues, I don't think that Mourinho would be interested?

Posted 11:12 25th November 2009

Aidan Bubesh (Liverpool fan) says...

You people know that Rafa likes to rotate and u fans forced him to play the same first 11 last year, and see what u got, many injury that even, to play 10 deferent Defenders in les that 20 game is not good, Liverpool lost lost more that 5 first team players and more that 6 players from the bench even real madrid have gago, rudy van, diala, vande vart, and so, but they were shaking after loosing cristian ronado, so lets not critsise Rafa and give him and players support then we will see at the end of the league

Posted 11:07 25th November 2009

Bob Best (Manchester United fan) says...

I think everyone is forgetting how big of a noise rafa made when his contract was being renewed. He said he wanted more control of the club and players. The owners had to think very hard about this and gave him what he wanted on a plate. Now we all now why they had to think long and hard because they knew this would happen. Liverpool cannot afford to not be in the champions league or not be in the top four, so bye bye rafa. Hope fergie goes for Babel be a star buy!!

Posted 10:56 25th November 2009

Joe Wade (Liverpool fan) says...

I would just like to say give rafa till then end of the season. and see where we are at.what you have to look at so far this season is that we have had more injuries this time around than ever before.I would allso like to take this time to point out that if you took out top players from the other top teams they would most def be in the same postion as we are now.i do think it is time to get in better cover for when our top players are out , at the moment the players who do come in are not good enough.so lets hope rafa can buy 3 to 4 top players in jan,with the get up and go that stevie g shows when he puts on the liverpool shirt.if the team had his desire and determanation i think we would be right up there,but the trouble is a lot of players just turn up for the money and not because they are a true red or a true blue and so on if you get what i mean. the big money is spoiling the game. well that is my moan for the day.lfc fan for 42 years now and i will be a lfc fan till i die.true red.

Posted 10:54 25th November 2009

Gavin Gant (Liverpool fan) says...

Rafa has to go. Who would give him more money after he has bought players like Lucas, Babel, Dossena (the list goes on). The team just isn't good enough to challenge for the title or progressing any serious competition. I do support the club and always have, but unfortunately, you cannot keep giving a manager money to buy players that cannot compete with Liverpools rivals! The Board needs to act now before it is too late this year.

Posted 10:47 25th November 2009

Ashley Conrad (Chelsea fan) says...

I feel that it is time for rafa to go he lost 9 games this season now and its not even been half way through the season yet. last season i think had lost 3-4 games last season and qualified for the champions league qualifiers.They havent done that this season so unfortanatley i think its time for him to go

Posted 08:59 25th November 2009

Neil Harvey (Liverpool fan) says...

i am sticking with Rafa very good manager why does everybody want him sacked ?? and who would take his place graham souness again and drag the club down to its lowest point ever if you say you are liverpool supporter ,support your club,manager,and players i have done for the last 45yrs

Posted 08:57 25th November 2009

Brian Whiteman (Liverpool fan) says...

It is time for Benitez to go, and unfortunately it's gonna cost the club to do so. He should never have been given the ridiculous new contract he was as in my opinion he never justified it. A better manager would have won Liverpool the title last season, and now I am seriously concerned about our chances of even qualifying for next years Champions League. Will Gerard and Torres hang around if we don't? Benitez has wasted huge amounts of money on players who are simply not good enough to play for Liverpool and with his crazy determination to sign Gareth Barry literally chased Xabi Alonso out of the club. It is time for a change, let's make the change now and try to salvage something from this season!

Posted 08:52 25th November 2009

Leifur geir Hafsteinsson (Liverpool fan) says...

Anyone who still believes that top clubs have one single strongest 11 have no grasp of modern football. A club such as Liverpool has many strongest 11, depending on the opponent each time. Rafa has overall done well in the transfer market, he does need to gamble at times due to limited resources but when the gamble fails he is quick to cut his losses. Fact of the matter is, that if Rafa goes now chances are that Gerrard and Carragher will not stand a chance to lift the Premier League trophy. A new manager will take until fall 2011 to rebuild his squad at which time they can start to compete with the other big teams. Then they'll have to win the league (which is easier said than done). The only thing that can change this is serious investment in the club, althoug my opinion is that Rafa would win the league right away if he had 100 million pounds at his disposal.

Posted 08:50 25th November 2009

Pepez Goolam (Liverpool fan) says...

I think that we should consider all the problems Rafa had and is still having before talking of sacking him............if every time a manager was in the position of Rafa, he was sacked, ..then I think Man utd as well as Arsenal will not be where they are if time is not given to these managers.

Posted 08:47 25th November 2009

Andy Turner (Manchester United fan) says...

I think it's more Stevie G and Torres that need to go. Liverpool rely on their only two players too much and without them may start having to play like a team instead of standing around waiting for one of them two to bail them out. Both those players are world class and deserve better.

Posted 08:42 25th November 2009

Fraser Soutar (Celtic fan) says...

It should be after what he has done with this great club

Posted 08:40 25th November 2009

Royston Green (Manchester United fan) says...

Time to go rafa. He has been very lucky having gerrard and torres. The rest - average. He seems to prefer headless chickens like Banayoun and Kuyt who run around alot but are skill less. Its likely to be another 20 years until they win the Premier League. Give up rafa you're a waste of space - FACT

Posted 08:39 25th November 2009

Chris Tetley (Liverpool fan) says...

Yes I think it is time for Rafa to go ! he is a good manager but he has made some very poor decisions on the pitch & has never put out is strongest side when he could have when everyone has been fit ! He also has never given Ryan Babel a fair chance & no wonder he wants to leave also I can name three players that don't warrant wearing a Liverpool shirt basically because they are not good enough & don't live up toLiverpool standards.

Posted 08:38 25th November 2009
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