Liverpool have dismissed suggestions that a rift has developed between George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks, the club’s American owners, over funding for a proposed £400 million stadium. Reports over the weekend claimed that a “major split” between the pair was threatening their long-term plans for the club, the centrepiece of which promises to be a new 76,000-seat stadium in Stanley Park, adjacent to Anfield. But in an unusual move, Rick Parry, the Liverpool chief executive, attempted to reassure supporters yesterday that all is well between the sports tycoons.

“I have just spent a couple of days with Tom and George,” Parry said. “Both of them were in good spirits, working hard together on their future plans for the club.

“I don’t normally comment on these things, but on the basis of what I have just seen, the story in one of the Sunday papers claiming there was some sort of problem between the two couldn’t be wider of the mark. It’s absolute nonsense.”

Whether or not Gillett and Hicks are in unison, the Americans are on the verge of reneging on their original promise not to saddle the club with the kind of debt that the Glazer family has at Manchester United. Since buying Liverpool nine months ago, the construction costs of the stadium have risen from £230 million to more than £400 million, forcing Gillett and Hicks to consider a £698 million refinancing plan that - if agreed, as expected, within the next month – would plunge the club £500 million into debt.

The Americans already face an annual interest bill of £21.5 million on the £298 million Royal Bank of Scotland loan with which they bought the club in February.

The new ground would initially hold 60,000, but after Liverpool City Council gave the green light last week to the Americans’ , the capacity could eventually stand at 76,000, about the same size as Old Trafford.

Reports in Italy that Hicks was considering a takeover of AS Roma were also dismissed yesterday. Uefa regulations forbid an individual from owning a majority shareholding in two clubs that may compete in the same competition.

“There is absolutely no truth whatsoever in the rumour that Mr Hicks is even considering investing in Roma football club,” Roy Winnick, the Texan’s spokesman, said.

Rafael BenÍtez, the Liverpool manager, has expressed his relief that Fernando Torres has not been called up by Spain for their crucial Euro 2008 qualifying ties at home to Sweden and Northern Ireland on Saturday and next Wednesday respectively. The forward returned to action in the 2-0 win over Fulham at Anfield on Saturday after a fortnight out with a thigh problem, an injury he suffered while on international duty.

Torres, Liverpool’s leading scorer with eight goals this season, is expected to be fit to start the Barclays Premier League match away to Newcastle United on Saturday week.

“I’m not surprised he isn’t in the squad because he has been injured,” BenÍtez said. “I’m pleased with the decision because it means he can stay with us and train to be ready for the next game. After not playing, it’s important he can work with us.”