For the first time in what feels like an age, Liverpool appear to be quietly going about their business, but the silence from the boardroom is not necessarily golden. Rafael Benítez has been given no indication that he will be offered an extension to his contract, which runs out at the end of next season, and for as long as the club remain in the hands of Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, the Spaniard appears unlikely to be offered any long-term security.

Hicks claimed six months ago that he wanted to offer Benítez a new contract, albeit only a one-year extension, but that he could not force through his plan until he had bought out Gillett, his co-owner. Hicks and Gillett have since claimed that they have patched up their “unworkable” partnership, but whatever else they may have reached agreement on, the American tycoons appear to have no plans to resolve the manager's future amid growing suspicions that their focus is solely on their exit strategy.

Hicks and Gillett are firmly expected to sell Liverpool in the coming months, with another prospective investor having joined Sheikh Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Dubai, in declaring an interest in recent weeks. In the meantime, construction work on a proposed new stadium in Stanley Park has been postponed indefinitely, with the owners unable to provide the finance, and there appears to be no prospect of a new contract for Benítez, even though there is no logical reason that a deal should not be offered if, after a good start to the Barclays Premier League campaign, he has the support of the six-man board.

Benítez has been known to use the media to advance his causes in the past, which is one reason he fell out with Hicks and Gillett last autumn, but he was restrained when asked about the silence on his future. “I'm not worried about the situation at the moment,” he said. “I am trying to be pragmatic about it and am just concentrating on the things I can improve. It doesn't make it more difficult for me to plan for the future. I can only control things on the pitch and try to improve the squad. If I can do that, then things will be easier in the future.”

Benítez's situation is being monitored by leading clubs in Spain and Italy. Reports in Italy on Monday suggested that Juventus may move for the Spaniard if they lose patience with Claudio Ranieri after a difficult start to the season. Benítez, though, has reiterated his desire to stay at Liverpool. “I'm really pleased and I have two more years [in fact a little over 18 months] left on my contract, so right now I'm just trying to do my job the best I can,” he said. “I have always said I want to stay here for many years and I have the same idea now.”

Benítez received some encouraging news last night when a specialist indicated that Martin Skrtel's posterior cruciate knee ligament injury was less serious than first feared. The Slovakia defender could be back by Christmas.