Benitez quashes rumours of him leaving Liverpool

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has ridiculed suggestions that he is about to leave the club following the collapse of its Premiership title challenge.

Bookies even stopped taking bets on his potential departure because of the weight of money on such a prospect, but a comprehensive win at the Bernabeu last week silenced the talk, The Mirror reports.

Benitez was visibly moved by the defeat of his former club and hometown team Real Madrid, after he comfortably won the tactical battle with the Spanish club's coach Juande Ramos. Afterwards he insisted he is going nowhere.

Even before kickoff, Benitez had told close friends that the idea of him walking out or being sacked were "utterly ridiculous".

"Believe me, I am staying. I know all about the news in England, but I can tell you I am thinking to stay and I want to work hard for this club. Clearly it is a fantastic night, and I am clear I am not thinking about resigning, my idea is to keep working and to try and win games,” Benitez was quoted as saying.

Benitez has steadfastly refused to sign a new contract after demanding a series of clauses that would strengthen his grip on all football matters at the Merseyside club. It is also thought that he has stubbornly fought for the removal of Rick Parry from his position as chief executive at Anfield after a long-running feud between the pair.

Benitez has even hinted that he would like co-owner George Gillett to step down because he has received no support from the American, only from his partner Tom Hicks.