Hicks: Benitez is right man

Liverpool's multi-millionaire American co-owner Tom Hicks is "optimistic" about the challenges ahead and has insisted that Spanish coach Rafa Benitez is the right man for the job. The Liverpool co-owner admitted he was worried after the 2-1 defeat to Fenerbahce in the Champions League.

Hicks admits much is expected but is confident Benitez, whose rotation policy has also been a source of consternation, will put things right this season.

"This squad should be winning," said Hicks, who owns the club in partnership with George Gillett.

"Otherwise, we will have to look at the circumstances and have a meeting at the end of year to try to understand what happened. But I prefer to be optimistic.

"We back Rafa. He's the right manager. Rafa's rotation has been his policy for three years.

"Rafa's ability to coach and manage in the Champions League should be unquestioned.

"We haven't won the Premier League for 17 years and I know how much the fans and Rafa want it," he said.

"I know the passion is there, that's one of reasons we made the signings in summer, to create the depth.

"When we committed the financial resources we did, the whole idea was to compete for the Premier League. We didn't have that depth in past years to do that."