Don't need the money apparently

Rafael Benitez last night insisted there is no problem in his relationship with Steven Gerrard as he vowed to "try to the end" to keep his captain at the club. Benitez and chief executive Rick Parry yesterday reiterated their desire to keep Gerrard on Merseyside as speculation intensified that his Liverpool days could be coming to an end. But Benitez has insisted he will do everything he can to persuade his skipper to sign a new deal and has hit back at those who have mischievously suggested the two don't see eye to eye. He said: "Has anyone seen a problem between me and Steven? Answer that. I have spoken to him about future roles at the club. I asked him what he wanted to do in the future and he gave me an idea - but that will remain private because it was a private conversation. "For the moment we will try to do things properly. We are doing things properly. He is the first player with two years left on his contract who we are talking with. The players we have spoken to so far only had one year left on their deals. "We recognise that Steven is a key player for us. He is a special player, a match-winner, and there are very few of those around." Benitez also insisted he didn't want to cash in on Gerrard and then use the money to rebuild his team for next season. "We don't need more money - we don't need to sell Stevie," he added. "We have a clear idea of who we want and the players want to come here and play for the European champions. Maybe we need a little but not too much... we don't need a lot more money. The fans need to understand that. "My idea is that we want him to stay - that's what the chief executive and the board all want. We will talk with the player, the agent and we will try to find a solution. We will try right until the end."

-- "I want to keep an English heart to the team. I believe in that. Michael Owen is that. Never think Michael is afraid of anything." - GZrard Houllier