Liverpool's Spanish players are desperate for manager Rafa Benitez to stay on.

Alvaro Arbeloa said: "I do not really know what the problem is but people must know how important he is for us.

"I hope he will continue with us for many years, but in these things you never know."

Albert Riera added: "We are aware of the dispute over his contract. But it is not something we were talking about in the dressing room, the match took up all our thoughts.

"Of course we want Rafa to stay. I wanted to play for Liverpool and he was a very important person in achieving that for me.

"Not only for me but for the other players too, we all want Rafa to be with us. If you asked everyone, 100% they would say they want Rafa to stay with us."