Gillett backs under-fire Benitez

Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has given manager Rafael Benitez his full support, despite the team's poor run of four straight defeats - their worst for 22 years.

The Reds are preparing for this Sunday's north-west derby against Manchester United looking to arrest a worrying slump that has seen them lose games to Fiorentina and Lyon in the Champions League and Chelsea and Sunderland in the Premier League.

But Gillett, who agreed a new five-year contract with the Spaniard in March, says he remains committed to Benitez despite the 'disappointing' recent run.

'Our family is extraordinarily pleased with him, we think he is absolutely as good as there is in the business and I am sure [fellow co-owner Tom] Hicks' feels the same way,' the American explained.

'We just extended his contract.

'I think the run of results disappoints everybody. Certainly, it disappoints the fans and it disappoints Rafa. I know he is disappointed.

'We are all disappointed, but we are in this together.'

Liverpool's plight against bitter rivals United is made all the more difficult by a recent injury crisis at Anfield, which sees doubts hanging over the availability of star duo Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

Torres has still not played since injuring his groin on international duty with Spain, while Gerrard returned to action against Lyon on Tuesday but limped off with a suspected recurrence of his own groin injury after only 25 minutes.