Liverpool players Albert Riera and Javier Mascherano want the club to end the uncertainty over Rafael Benitez's future.

The Spaniards said they were aware of the ongoing contract dispute and were hoping Reds officials would offer Benitez a new long-term deal.

"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," Riera said.

"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 percent they would say they want Rafa to stay with us."

Mascherano echoed those sentiments.

"The manager brought me to Anfield, he has done a very good job here," he said.

"We can get to the quarter finals again and he has shown that against the top sides like in Barcelona, at Inter Milan last season and now at Real Madrid he is a very good coach for us.

"We are always a team who works very hard and every Liverpool supporter has to be very happy with this. Every player gives everything for the club.

"He is important for me. When I came to Liverpool I did not have any confidence after being at West Ham.

"The manager gave me that confidence. The only thing I can say to Rafa is thank you, he helped me during a bad moment in my career and now I try to do everything for my team and for him.

"I cannot say what is going to happen, but with him Liverpool is doing a great job. If we want to keep going in the Champions League and Premier League it is important to have him with us."