Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has demanded answers immediately from his bosses George Gillett, Jr. and Tom Hicks. Liverpool defeated Blackburn 3-1 at the weekend and Benitez had found out that Rick Parry too was part of the meetings with German boss Jurgen Klinsmann.

Benitez said: "I am surprised at things I have read, I need some clarification about a meeting that took place involving a lot of people that I did now know about.

"I need to ask questions and I want some answers. I want to clarify things. I am really calm, but I want answers.

"What concerned me was the people who were in the meeting, that was a surprise.

"We [the staff and the players] are professionals and we know we must be focused on football, and we will try to do this.

"It is not affecting the players. They are winning and they know we must finish in the top four and progress in the Champions League. We must stay focused on football."