Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is looking to stage clear-the-air talks with the club's American owners prior to next month´s Premier League showdown with Manchester United.

The Reds should be backed at 20/23 to eclipse their -1.5 handicap with Bodog when they face Bolton on Sunday. They have scored 17 goals in their last 4 matches at Anfield.

Benitez had been told by Tom Hicks and George Gillet that they would not discuss transfers until they made their next trip to Merseyside for the clash with United on December 16.

However Benitez said recently: "I would hope to speak to the owners before the Manchester United game. I don't know if that is possible but we will try. But I don't know for sure."

Asked whether he still had a January list of transfer targets Benitez fired back: "I am enjoying Wednesday night's Champions League victory against Porto and concentrating on coaching and training my players."

But Benitez maintained his own position.

He added: "My relationship with them was good before. Now we need to talk about what the problem was and move on. Maybe my English is not that good, maybe that was the problem. But it is clear we have to understand the situation and talk to each other."

If Benitez was to be relieved of his position it is thought that the England manager position is a realistic possibility.

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