Benitez: Players must stay focused

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With the club's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett reportedly involved in talks with the super-rich Kuwaiti Al Kharafi family, it could prove a major distraction to the task of overcoming Everton in the fourth-round tie.

The Spaniard, who wants his players to concentrate on producing the right reaction to Monday's disappointing 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw with Everton at Anfield, said: "It is always important that you respond well if you suffer a disappointment and this is what has happened in training this week."

He added: "I have been really pleased with the last two training sessions we have had because the attitude of the players has been really positive.

"We have been analysing Monday night's game and we know that we made some mistakes. So we will try to adjust the small details that can make such a big difference.

"But it is important to remember that we drew on Monday night, we did not lose the game, and we have not lost any game for more than two months.

"There are a lot of positives and now we must try to build on them in the second half of the season."

It had been rumoured that Benitez would rest skipper Steven Gerrard following the adjourned court hearing, in which the 28-year-old confirmed he intends to plead not guilty to charges of affray and assault.

But Benitez said: "Steven was working as normal in training and he was scoring goals and you could see the spirit was there that he always has. Steven is in the right frame of mind. I have watched him in training and he is fine."