Rafael Benitez pledged his 100 per cent commitment to Liverpool after rumours that he was set to quit Anfield.
Rafael Benitez pledged his 100 per cent commitment to Liverpool after rumours that he was set to quit Anfield.
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Benitez, whose side cruised to a 4-0 victory over Stoke at Anfield on Wednesday, was speaking after pre-match whispers swept Merseyside claiming that the Spaniard was ready to quit over lack of transfer funds given to him by the club's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
"I am 100 per cent committed to the club," Benitez said. "I was told about the rumours before the game. Maybe it's something that can happen here. But I am staying here for the fans, the staff and the players."
After watching his side coast to their first victory of the campaign, Benitez also said he was on the brink of signing Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos from AEK Athens for two million pounds.
The former Rangers players is due to undergo a medical in the next 24 hours with a view to joining the club ahead of next Monday's home game with Aston Villa.
"We've nearly done a deal," added Benitez.
The arrival of Kyrgiakos will ease a defensive crisis which robbed Benitez of Daniel Agger (back) and Martin Skrtel (jaw) because of injury.
Benitez gave 18-year-old Daniel Ayala his senior debut alongside Jamie Carragher at the heart of the defence against Stoke.
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| Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez |
Yet the 6ft 3in Spanish teenager, a former Seville youth player, did not let his side down as he produced a mature performance which encouraged his manager.
"Daniel was a bit nervous to start with but in the end he had a very good game," said Benitez.
"We will see what happens with him but he has got to keep working."
Liverpool's first win of the season was inspired by Fernando Torres. Having been slated for his sluggish performance three days earlier during a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham, the Spain forward scored one and made another as Benitez's side made easy work of sweeping aside Stoke.
Liverpool failed to score against Stoke in 180 minutes of Premier League action last season but once Torres opened the scoring in the fourth minute, it was straight forward for last season's runners-up.
Glen Johnson, an 18 million pounds signing from Portsmouth, marked his home debut by doubling the lead before half time before late goals by Dirk Kuyt and substitute David Ngog sealed an emphatic victory.
Benitez was particularly pleased for Johnson.
"I was looking for a player with quality going forward. That's why I signed him," he said.
"He created a lot of chances and was a threat in attack.
"I was also pleased with Lucas Leiva, he has taken a lot of unfair criticism from the pundits which is not fair. He is a fine professional and a very good player, our best in pre-season."
The only negative was an injury to Torres. He required a number of stitches in a head wound but that is unlikely to keep him out of the next game against Villa.
Benitez added: "Last season against Stoke here, we just could not score an early goal to force them to come out.
"This time we got one very quickly and it gave us the space to attack. The second just before the break was very important, because it gave us the cushion we needed."
Stoke boss Tony Pulis admitted his team had been out-classed: "I hold my hands up, we were beaten by a better team and better players.
"They do not only have Torres and Gerrard, who are world class. They have great players right through their team, and they showed that quality against us.
"To write them off after one defeat on the opening weekend is crazy. They will be up there fighting for the title again, I have no doubt about that."
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