Rafa rubbishes rift rumours

Benitez: Looking forward

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Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez insists he does not want to quit Anfield after guiding his side to a 4-1 UEFA Champions League victory over Porto.

A Fernando Torres brace and goals from Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch were enough to cancel out a Lisandro Lopez header and ensure Liverpool travel to Marseille in two weeks' time for their final group game knowing that another win would book a place in this season's knock-out stages.

However, the match was overshadowed by the reported bust-up between Benitez and the club's American-based owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, which has cast doubt over the Spaniard's future with Liverpool.

The Liverpool supporters, though, made their appreciation of Benitez evident during the match at Anfield and the Reds boss insists he is also happy on Merseyside.

Proud

"I am really proud to be here and I say thank you because they (the fans) know that I want to stay and fight for my club," Benitez told Sky Sports 2.

"I don't have any personal problem with the owners or with anyone. I just try to improve everything and they also want the best for the club. We will talk and try to go forward and progress.

"I want to say thank you to the fans after their support for today. Today is for them."

Meanwhile, Benitez recognises that his team were in a difficult contest against Porto, but he remains confident that Liverpool can qualify for the knock-out stages after Besiktas' 2-1 win over Marseille ensured all Group A teams still harbour hopes of qualification.

Quality

"It was a very tough game against a very good team with quality and ability," Benitez added.

"We were a little bit under pressure, but when we scored the second goal it was a little bit easier, but it was always against a very good team.

"They were always pressing and so it was difficult to pass the ball and we gave the ball away a couple of times and were a little bit nervous.

"We had confidence. We needed to win three games in a row. We have won two and everyone can go forward."