A catalogue of defensive errors allowed Peter Crouch to put Liverpool in front against the run of play in the 74th minute but an own goal from John Arne Riise three minutes later helped the Hatters, currently in administration, secure a deserved and money-spinning replay at Anfield.

The result heaped more misery on Benitez and sparked further questions over the security of his job.

But the Spaniard said: "I love the club and the fans and want to stay.

"I have two years left on my contract and if I could stay for two years more, I would be very happy."

Asked if the club's American owners wanted him to stay, he replied: "The people who own the club? I think so. But every day do I need to ask them that question?

"I love the club, fans. I want to stay. We are working together trying to improve the squad now and for the future.

"All I think is that we scored a goal today and should have controlled the game, I don't need to answer questions about anything else."

Benitez was confident his side will kill off the Hatters in the replay.

He said: "In the first half we had some chances and they had some chances. After we scored the goal, we conceded a goal three minutes later.

"I am happy because we will have another game at Anfield. That is positive. We are in the cup and we will continue trying to win. I am confident it will be different at Anfield."

Luton boss Kevin Blackwell was proud of his side after they earned a lucrative trip to Merseyside.

He said: "I think we could have won it. It was a fantastic performance from the players. To see a sloppy goal go in like that could have really destroyed all the hard work they had done. But what a great response.

"We still had some chances after that. But, as a manager, I am very proud of the way the players played today. We matched them football for football but we had to match them with heart, running and endeavour.

"Everything you look for in a team, I got from my team today and I am delighted.

"It would have been thoroughly unjust had we lost. We have come away with a draw and it changes everything again because of the finances for the club."

The deadline for potential buyers of the cash-strapped club passes at 5pm tomorrow, and Blackwell added: "I am hopeful that it now makes us a much more attractive proposition and people move in quicker. I don't want to lose a side I am starting to build here. That is the frustration.

"Surely anybody looking at that must think Luton's got something going and want to be part of it. All we can do is the football but if we can make it as an attractive proposition as we can, it must help a buyer come in and please God, we've done that today."

Luton midfielder Drew Talbot, who ran Liverpool's defence ragged all afternoon, insists they can push the Reds all the way again in the replay.

Talbot said: "We've pushed them all the way today and so we will go there with the same mentality and fingers crossed we can snatch a win."

Luton captain Chris Coyne said Liverpool would now have to show them more respect in the return match.

Coyne said: "We gave a sloppy goal away but the chances we created means they will have to give us a bit of respect when we go up there."