Rafael Benítez has admitted he nearly walked away from Liverpool during the stand-off with the club's American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, over his new contract. The Spaniard recently signed a five-year deal to stay at Anfield until 2014 but at one stage was so concerned about the fact that not everyone at the club was pulling in the same direction that he considered quitting.

"It is true that at times I may have thought about my future," said the Liverpool manager. "There was a lot of uncertainty at the club but, when you put all of these things together and the fact I am sure we can improve, there was no doubt in my mind.

"If you put everyone in a rowing boat, we all have to push the oars at the same time with maximum effort with somebody at the head of the boat with a clear idea of which direction to go in," said the Liverpool manager.

"If everybody is doing their job properly you will go faster. But if somebody is not working as hard, their timing is not correct or they don't have the same understanding, the boat will run off course."

Liverpool are second in the league, one point behind Manchester United but having played one more game than their rivals. They travel to Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon while United play Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday.