A frustrated and seething Rafa Benitez is tired of negotiating a new contract with Liverpool's American club owners.

The Reds boss has set out his demand that all his backroom staff are to get their contracts renewed before he signs his own.

Benitez said: "Anyone that has just a year left on his deal does not have anything at all - and I have only got 18 months left.

"When people, either within the club or from outside it, realise that the manager only has that much time left then he is dead.

"I've got 10 or 12 assistants whose contracts are up in June.

"How can a manager lead a project properly if the continuity of his staff is not secure for two or three years?"

On the topic of him asking for total control of players coming in and out of the club, Benitez said: "I would like to clear one thing up - I never asked for complete control.

"I did, however, ask for the power to be able to make my own decisions and run the team the way I see fit. That is not the same thing."