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Guillem Balague has printed an article in AS today which presents a new twist on the whole Rafa contract business. It’s worth highlighting because it’s sure to become a recurring theme over the next few months as the propaganda machine kicks into gear. Quoting Martin Samuel’s interview with Fernando Torres last Saturday and Samuel’s column in the Mail yesterday, he suggests six key players will leave Anfield if Benitez goes. Balague claims this is an open secret at Anfield. He goes further and suggests the players are Agger, Mascherano, Arbeloa, Kuyt, Reina and Torres. I’ve no idea what Arbeloa and Mascherano think about it, but I’ve been told categorically there’s absolutely no truth Reina, Agger, Kuyt and, most importantly, Torres feel so strongly about the manager’s future that they’d quit the club in protest if he leaves. Maybe Reina would use it as an excuse to return to Spain because his wife hasn't ever really completely settled here, but the claim he'd walk out just because of Rafa simply isn't true. I’m told in the midst of all the claims about Agger and Kuyt waiting to sign their deals, it was put to them by the rest of the team if it was true they were waiting for the manager’s future to be resolved. Both said no. In fact, Agger’s relationship with Benitez is known to have been strictly ‘professional’ since the start of the season when he was left out for Skrtel. As for Torres, Guillem omits a key quote from Saturday’s Daily Mail. Here’s what was actually said by Nando. "Now I feel Liverpool is my English club, the way Atletico is my Spanish club. I would not like to play for another English or Spanish club. This feeling is very important to me. Rafa has been a very important manager for me and for many other players, too. He has brought a lot of players here and put his confidence in them." “If he goes there could be five or six players looking at their future. But I'd like to stay here, and in that way maybe it does not matter if Rafa is here." Aside from him denying his future is linked to Rafa’s, if he doesn’t want to play anywhere else in England or Spain at the moment, where is Torres going to go? And who could afford him? This begs the question, who are the five or six players who are considering their future? Not Torres, not Agger, not Kuyt, not Carragher, certainly not Alonso, not Gerrard, not Reina, absolutely not Keane, and not ultra-professional Hyypia. Of the team that started against Everton, that leaves Skrtel, Aurelio and Riera. The idea that Skrtel would quit the club just because the manager goes is far fetched in the extreme. Perhaps N’Gog, Lucas, Cavelieri and El Zhar will consider their futures if Rafa goes too, or more likely have their futures considered for them. Can the club survive such an exodus? Balague also claims Benitez has the full support of Steven Gerrard for his recent statements. It’s certainly true he’s been desperate to convince Stevie to get behind him, but the word from Melwood is Gerrard doesn’t want to get involved and just wants the focus 100 per cent on winning the title. We had all this kind of talk when Mourinho left Chelsea, but how many of his players left when he did? This kind of thing does my head in, as no doubt a lot of people will believe it. If the players feel so strongly, how come not one has come out and got involved in all of this to pledge their backing to him. Why did Torres specifically say that his future is not linked to Rafa's when he could have either refused to comment on it or he could have said he'd have to consider his future if Rafa went? The players play for Liverpool Football Club, not Rafa Benitez FC. I'm sick of all this spin, and political games and use of the media.