Rafa’s job is safe

Liverpool have assured Rafa Benitez that his job is safe, despite the earliest Champions League exit of his reign at the club. The Reds crashed out of Europe on Tuesday despite a 1-0 win over Hungarian champions Debrecen because Fiorentina managed to beat Lyon (already qualified) to secure the other place from their group in the last 16. Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow, however, was quick to dismiss any suggestion of the sack, by insisting that Benitez’s position is secure, with the Reds relatively unaffected, financially by their early departure from Europe's premier competition. "This has no bearing on Rafa whatsoever. He signed a new five-year deal only months ago and in those terms he is eight months into a five-year journey," insisted Purslow on Tuesday. Famous last words? Watch this space!