Benitez wants Klinsmann explanation

Rafael Benitez is to demand "some answers" from the Liverpool board over their pre-Christmas plans to appoint Jurgen Klinsmann as his replacement.

Co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett held talks with Klinsmann, and it has emerged that under-fire chief executive Rick Parry was also "instructed" to attend talks with the German.

Benitez, however, seems unlikely to be appeased by that account of events, given his existing rift with Parry and said: "Off the pitch, I am surprised at things I have read. I need some clarification about a meeting with a lot of people that I did not know about."

He added: "I will talk with the board about this (the Klinsmann issue) - as soon as possible.

"I need to resolve questions and I want some answers. I want to clarify things.

"I am really calm - but I want answers."

It is the allegation of Parry's involvement in the Klinsmann talks that most concerns Benitez.

"I need to talk to the board to clarify things," he stressed.

"I was surprised about a meeting with another manager. What concerned me was the people who were in the meeting."