Benitez set to sign a long-term contract

Rafa Benitez is expected to sign a new long-term contract with Liverpool this week. The club’s American owners have agreed to give him full control over transfer policy. Liverpool coowner Tom Hicks last night arrived at Anfield to tell Benitez the valuation of transfer targets will no longer be the remit of chief executive Rick Parry.

And the owners are ready to sanction the sale of £20million misfit Robbie Keane, who has been left out of the Liverpool squad for this afternoon’s crunch clash with Chelsea.