Rafa backs down in Liverpool row as he dreams of Moscow in the spring

Benitez and tact may not always go hand in hand but the Liverpool manager was clearly anxious to make amends for the indiscretions that so angered George Gillett and, in particular, Tom Hicks as he conducted a media conference that was intended to preview tonight's crucial Champions League tie with Porto at Anfield.

Inevitably, the Spaniard was bombarded with questions about his seemingly doomed Liverpool future instead of the prospects against the Portuguese League leaders.

But it was a different Benitez from the petty, prickly approach shown last Thursday and the downright confrontational stance that followed Saturday's 3-0 win at Newcastle.

After putting his foot in it on both those appearances before the media and antagonising Hicks almost to the point of no return, he tiptoed through the minefield this time and was at pains to avoid any further ructions across the Atlantic.

Such was the extent of his belated attempt at diplomacy that, on the one occasion he allowed his thoughts to stray beyond tonight's Group A showdown, he promised he would do his best to deliver for his American bosses a springtime trip to Moscow where the Champions League Final will be staged.

Benitez knows how close he is to the sack, after appearing to miscalculate the ruthless streak that has helped bring Hicks his millions. He needed no reminding that an early exit for last season's finalists could be seen as the ideal excuse to send him packing.

He remains on the brink but there were at least signs of compliance — contrition, almost — as he took it upon himself to put personal considerations aside and confine his answers to the immediate task.

Just as Hicks and Gillett demanded, in fact, when they told him to concentrate on team affairs last Thursday.

The olive branch was offered with his opening remarks that he would "only take questions on Porto", and continued as he reiterated his intention to be in the running for a Champions League Final place and the Premier League title come next May.

"I am confident we will get through this group and continue to progress in the competition," he said. "There is a lot of confidence in this squad, as well as ability, and it is still my dream to lead them out in Moscow and be challenging for the Premier League.

"I realise Porto are a very good team who will be as motivated as any about coming to Anfield and putting one over a club as big as us. But there is a determination about the players, a real desire to win every game and go all the way to the final and I share it.

"The players are very focused on the game and I am not at all concerned about whether all the speculation might get to them. It has been going on for nearly a week but it didn't seem to affect them at Newcastle.

"My love for Liverpool — the players, the fans, the club — is as strong as ever.

"My commitment is clear but I don't want to make an issue of that now because the most important thing is winning this game.

"I don't want any distractions and that is why I decided to talk about nothing other than the game. I wasn't told to keep quiet on other matters. It was my decision because the club comes first."

Whether the change of tack has come in time to save Benitez from the wrath of Hicks remains to be seen. A cheery smile may be constantly on standby for the nearest camera, but the Texan's 'good ol' boy' image only goes so far.

When it comes to business, he acts on instinct first and thinks about the consequences for others later, if at all.

After seeing his Dallas Stars ice hockey team struggle in the NHL, he decided the time had arrived for action a fortnight ago and sacked general manager Doug Armstrong without even consulting president Jim Lites. There was a good reason for that. Lites was on his way, too, after Hicks decided he should be replaced by his Texas Rangers baseball team president Jeff Cogen.

As he surveyed the carnage that was completed in the space of 24 hours, Hicks let out a sigh of satisfaction and said: "I'm the owner. It's what I do. Honestly, I feel very good today. I think I'm getting a lot accomplished.

"I feel good about the direction of the baseball team now. It's taken a while. Now, I want to get the hockey team back to where it was at. I want it to be at an elite level."

Benitez can at least count on the backing of his players after keeper Pepe Reina, choosing his words carefully, said: "We don't know for sure what is happening other than what we read in the papers but it is clear Rafa is doing a brilliant job here, just as he has from day one.

"We know for sure that he has been really successful and our commitment to him and the club is really deep-rooted."

Even so, after storming away from Valencia, berating the sporting director's transfer failings and claiming he had "given me a table leg when I asked for a couch", Benitez might not be in quite such a position of strength three-and-a- half years on.

He may just have crossed the wrong man this time and his hopes of becoming part of the furniture at Anfield continue to look distinctly threadbare.

HOW THEY LINE UP

LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Reina; Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Arbeloa; Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Babel; Voronin, Torres.

PORTO (4-3-3): Helton; Bosingwa, Alves, Stepanov, Fucile; Lucho Gonzalez, Assuncao, Raul Meireles; Mariano Gonzalez or Sektioui, Lopez, Quaresma.

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).

TV: Sky Sports 2, 6pm (kick-off 7.45).