LIVERPOOL - Liverpool says its manager Rafael Benitez's clear-the-air talks with the club's American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, have been "positive".

LIVERPOOL - Liverpool says its manager Rafael Benitez's clear-the-air talks with the club's American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, have been "positive".

The Anfield boss has become increasingly frustrated over the issue of funds available during the January transfer window and his mood would not have been helped by seeing his team slip to a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United.

The Spaniard, whose team are now 10 points behind Premiership leaders Arsenal, claims the American duo do not understand the European transfer market.

But a statement on the Liverpool website said: "A meeting was held this evening (Sunday) involving Tom Hicks, George Gillett, Foster Gillett, Rick Parry and Benitez, which was wide-ranging and positive.

"The discussions were amicable and constructive. All those present are united in their desire to bring further success to the club."

RESULTS

English Premiership:

Arsenal 1 (Gallas 45), Chelsea 0; Liverpool 0, Manchester United 1 (Tevez 43); Birmingham 1 (Forssell 4), Reading 1 (Hunt 51-pen); Derby 0, Middlesbrough 1 (Sanli 38); Fulham 0, Newcastle 1 (Barton 90-pen); Manchester City 4 (Bianchi 7, Michalik 48-og, Vassell 77, Etuhu 90), Bolton 2 (Diouf 31, Nolan 40); Portsmouth 0, Tottenham 1 (Berbatov 81); Sunderland 1 (Higginbotham 10), Aston Villa 1 (Maloney 73); West Ham 0, Everton 2 (Yakubu 45, Johnson 90); Wigan 5 (Landzaat 10, Bent 12, 66, 81, Scharner 37), Blackburn 3.

Spanish La Liga:

Valladolid 0, Sevilla 0; Real Betis 3 (Edu 28-pen, Pavone 50, 83), Almeria 1 (Negredo 10-pen); Getafe 1 (Kepa 85), Villarreal 3 (Nihat 15, 78, Cazorla 83); Deportivo La Coruna 1 (Coloccini 53), Real Zaragoza 1 (Diego Milito 17); Real Mallorca 0, Athletic Bilbao 0;

Murcia 2 (Goitom 56, Baiano 83-pen), Racing 1 (Smolarek 62); Recreativo Huelva 0, Atletico Madrid 0;

Real Madrid 2 (Van Nistelrooy 15, Sneijder 75), Osasuna 0;

Espanyol 1 (Jarque 8), Levante 0;

Valencia 0, Barcelona 3. - Sapa-AFP