Benitez keeps the heat on Liverpool owners

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Tom Hicks and George Gillett reacted angrily to Benitez's recent agitating over transfer policy and feel he may also be trying to influence too many other aspects of the club.

They will spell out their misgivings during talks over the next few days but Benitez will make it clear he is not prepared to allow his role to be marginalised to little more than coach of the team.

In an interview with Spanish newspaper AS, Benitez could not resist returning to the issue that sparked the dispute.

'There's a misunderstanding when people speak of the money Liverpool have spent. Between what we have spent and recovered, we're at a similar level to those at the top but not the biggest sides,' Benitez is quoted as saying. 'Manchester United have spent £70million when we have spent £40 something million and recovered £26million.

'Many people say we have to win the title because of the money we have spent but other teams such as United, Chelsea, Newcastle United or Aston Villa have also spent a lot of money. Arsenal have been spending a lot on young players for years and now are reaping the rewards.

'We have a central defensive problem because it was not possible to close a deal for Gabriel Heinze and then Daniel Agger was injured. That is forcing us to play with Sami Hyypia, who is 34, and Jamie Carragher for two games a week and with the intensity here, it is not easy to support this. Our idea is to bring a balance to the team in that position.'

After an unsuccessful plea for January transfer plans to be sanctioned, the Liverpool manager came close to being sacked after reacting petulantly to an instruction from Hicks to concentrate on getting the best out of the players already at his disposal.

Yesterday he said: 'I am confident that once the meeting has taken place all this talk about my position will be finished.'