On a day when Hicks and co-owner George Gillett unveiled new plans for the club's $750m stadium, as well as announcing that their re-financing package had been completed, Benitez's own future looks safe - for now.

Benitez felt able to discuss the likely transfer of Mohamed Sissoko to Juventus for $23million and also declare his belief that Javier Mascherano's permanent move to the club will go ahead, for around $37m.

The six-week injury absence of Andriy Voronin will also end any speculation about Peter Crouch leaving.

Crucially, when details of the $850m re-financing were being confirmed, Hicks also backed Benitez to enjoy longevity at Anfield after months of in-fighting.

He said: "Rafa is under contract for two more seasons following this season.

"I am solidly behind Rafa and am confident of the team's competitive prospects under his continuing leadership."

For Hicks - who fell out with Benitez over the co-owners' approach to Jurgen Klinsmann - talk of the Spaniard's length of contract underlined the desire to build bridges with his manager.

What has become clear of late is that Hicks and Gillett are aware that they must keep Benitez on side considering the depth of animosity among the Anfield crowd towards them, plus their evident support for Benitez to stay in control.

Of concern, however, is that Gillett's name failed to appear on any of the statements on Friday and it is believed there is still a rift between the two American owners.

But Benitez's future will now be determined by results, rather than any political row.

He will need to finish in the top four, to progress to the later stages of the FA Cup and stay in the Champions League, otherwise more questions will be asked in the summer.

The on-going crisis at the club has all but overshadowed the romantic visit of non-league side Havant and Waterlooville to Anfield in the FA Cup fourth round.

But Benitez was determined today to offer them respect ahead of Saturday's match.

He said: "People will say this will be an easy game, but you must give respect to your opponents. They are here because they deserve to be here, so we will make sure we are ready for this game.

"We have watched Havant and seen videos. People say we will win and score a lot, but we will treat them with absolute respect.

"Do not forget that we drew at Luton and it took 44 minutes in the replay for us to get ahead.

"We will treat them just the way we do any other team in the Premier League, we will have a drink after the game as always. Everything will be the same as usual.

"They need a lot of respect and we will go into the game with a strong squad. We must give them credit, against Swansea they scored four goals and looked a good team. We will be very careful.

"I know that Liverpool were knocked out of the FA Cup in 1959 by non-league opposition (Worcester City), so we know it can be done. We will approach the game in the right way and do our best."

But the volatile situation at Anfield has also occupied Benitez's mind.

He said: "I was in contact with the owners, they were telling me things, but now I must concentrate on the games. The key is to progress in the cups.

"We want to bring fantastic players to this club in the future, that is the aim. I have seen the new stadium plans, I hope to be here when it opens."

Benitez has received support from Sir Alex Ferguson this week as well as the League Managers' Association.

And he now feels able to discuss transfer budgets - the central issue in the fall-out between him and owners.

He said: "We are working on Sissoko's future, and we are close to a final solution.

"And I am confident that Mascherano will stay with us - the money from a transfer for Sissoko can certainly help. I talked with Mascherano this week and he wants to stay here. I believe he will.

"I must also say thank you to Sir Alex Ferguson for his personal support recently, but I do not have any doubts that we can bring in top players because this is a top club.

"I sat down with the players to talk about the situation. I said it was important to train well and to concentrate on the matches.

"The solution is to work harder, to progress in the FA Cup and Champions League and try to finish high in the Premier League.

"We have two important cup competitions to progress in and that will be very important for the club in terms of money coming in.

"When I came here we talked of having to be contenders three years later. In those three years we won four trophies and have been in finals."

He added: "We are in a very good position and want to be better.

"I have had some contact with the owners this week, we are progressing. We talked about Sissoko and Mascherano, we need to be proactive."