Gillett backing Benitez after meeting with the Liverpool boss

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Benitez met with Gillett and co-owner Tom Hicks hours after Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at Anfield.

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The peace summit had been planned for a number of weeks after the trio suffered a highly-publicised fallout over the American tycoons' transfer policy, casting doubt over Benitez's position.

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On the same page: Gillett appears to share the same opinion of Benitez as the Liverpool fans

However, Gillett has now given his full backing to Benitez, and told the Liverpool Echo: "This wasn't supposed to happen, but it has happened, and now the focus has to be on finding a common platform to continue our co-operation."

Speaking at a meeting of the Liverpool Former Players' Association, Gillett added: "Rafa is the one we want as manager further on, and we have faith in him.

"I've been married over 40 years and have first-hand knowledge about how to solve an argument.

"We concentrated on getting an overview over the situation, and I felt we accomplished that."

Despite this, Gillett hinted a decision has yet to be made on Liverpool's transfer policy in the January transfer window.

That may further frustrate Benitez, who insisted in his criticism of the owners that he feared missing out on his top targets if he was not given the go-ahead to pursue them long before the window opened.

"The transfer window opens soon and we might use the option that gives us, or we might not," Gillett added.

"Liverpool is a great club. We are well aware that we have something very valuable in our hands."