Rafael BenÍtez painted a picture of a club moving forward harmoniously yesterday when he suggested that he and Liverpool’s American owners had a shared vision of the future. But, as he defended his record and his team’s disappointing performance in the Barclays Premier League, the message appeared to be directed towards Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr rather than the supporters, who tend to be more sympathetic to his plight.

Barring a dramatic softening of the owners’ stance, BenÍtez will not be in charge at Anfield next season, his strained relationship with the board deemed untenable even before a series of adverse results in the Premier League. But, as he prepares to take his team to Luton Town in the FA Cup third round tomorrow, the Liverpool manager urged his critics to look at the progress made by his regime and to take into account the difficulties in competing at a time when the bar is continually being raised by Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.

“Expectation is a problem,” BenÍtez said. “When we started this season, everybody was talking about how we can be title contenders this year. I think so too, but with the other teams also improving their squads, you never know. It is not easy.”

BenÍtez is frustrated by the perception - aired by Hicks – that the money he spent on Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and others in the summer put Liverpool on an even playing field with United, who finished 21 points clear of them last season.

“Arsenal, United and Chelsea have very good teams and are also spending big money,” BenÍtez said. “We are progressing, but they are also.”

BenÍtez feels it is essential for Liverpool’s long-term future that they sign Javier Mascherano on a permanent basis, but the Argentina midfield player, whose “economic rights” are owned by two investment companies, is attracting interest from Juventus and Barcelona. “We will do our best to keep him here,” the manager said.