P: The fans have given you so much backing over the years...

RB: (interrupting the question) If I’m here it is because of those fans. I have had massive offers over the last year and I decided to stay because of the fans. If I am here it is because of them.

P: Is that the only reason you stayed at Liverpool, because of the fans?

RB: Yes. I am here despite massive offers but I said I will stay (when signing last year’s contract). I gave my word because of the fans. It’s been a very disappointing season because we couldn’t achieve what we were expected to, and still I’m here and I will do my best until the end.

P: The fans will be here next season. That’s the one thing that will never change. They will continue to back their club.

RB: The fans are the main thing, the best thing, that the club has.

P: If you said you’d stayed for the fans...

RB: I decided to stay last year because of the fans and for one year I have been working very hard, trying to do my best and we will see what happens in the future, because Chelsea is the future now.

It’s not just Benitez whose future will be called into question in the coming months, with the likes of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard expected to have their loyalty tested by big-money offers from potential suitors.

But one player going nowhere is goalkeeper Pepe Reina, one of the few shining lights of a dismal campaign for Liverpool.

"I made it clear 10 days ago by signing a six-year deal that I want to stay," he says. "I have no problem and no regrets about signing that contract.

"I just want us to move on and improve for next season and aim to win some titles. We want something better than this season."

And while Reina reckons Liverpool are still a major lure for players, the club needs to resolve its ownership saga or risk continued underachievement and frustrated squad members walking away.

"Any kind of player around the world will feel attracted by Liverpool," says the Spaniard. "Playing against Liverpool is still a massive game for people, we are a massive club and one of the best in the world.

"Of course players will want to come. Even though we might not be playing Champions League football next season, it’s still a massive club.

"But it is important that players like Fernando see the club moving forward. Let’s see how it goes with the owners and the sale of the club and those kind of things that are not in our hands.

"Once we are done with that, let’s build a proper team, a proper squad, a competitive squad and one that can help us fight for bigger targets."