Benitez forced onto defensive again

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Benitez's future has been the subject of intense speculation in recent weeks and the rumours are unlikely to subside after lowly Luton earned a third round FA Cup replay with a 1-1 draw against a Reds side that showed eight changes from their previous outing.

Asked about his team selection, Benitez said: "What is my strongest team? When you play Crouch, who is the centre forward for England, (Yossi) Benayoun, who is an international player, (Dirk) Kuyt, who is an international player and (Andriy) Voronin, you give the other team the message that you have a very strong side. The other players were injured."

John Arne Riise's 76th-minute own goal gave the cash-strapped Hatters a money-spinning replay on Merseyside after Peter Crouch had opened the scoring against the run of play.

And Benitez added: "I think the team scored a goal and need to use their experience to control the game. But it's the FA Cup. Look at what happened to Everton, Blackburn and Bolton - that's the FA Cup."

On the speculation over his job, the Spaniard added: "I love the club and the fans and want to stay. I have two years left on my contract and if I could stay for two years more, I would be very happy."

Asked if the club's American owners wanted him to stay, he replied: "The people who own the club? I think so. But every day do I need to ask them that question?

"I love the club, fans. I want to stay. We are working together trying to improve the squad now and for the future. All I think is that we scored a goal today and should have controlled the game, I don't need to answer questions about anything else."

For Luton, who have been unable to fully pay their players since being plunged into administration three months ago, the result meant a vital pay day in the replay.

Manager Kevin Blackwell said: "I wanted to be talking about the football, but in terms of all the things that are going on, yes, it's the perfect result. But I'm disappointed because I thought we could have won the game."