IN THE crazy world of football, even rumours without a leg to stand on can run for days and days.

So, after a week in which Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, depending on where you gleaned your information, was going to be sacked or resign, here are the facts.

In five years at Anfield, Benitez has taken Liverpool to seven major finals. He has lifted the FA Cup, European Super Cup, Community Shield and the Champions League cup on that dramatic night in Istanbul back in 2005.

He might add another this season, considering the 1-0 victory against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu on Wednesday means Liverpool are favourites to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the fourth time in five seasons.

Oh, by the way, did I mention that that was achieved without the services of talisman Steven Gerrard, apart from a two-minute substitute appearance, and with the club's top striker Fernando Torres injured shortly after the kick-off?

And did I mention that Liverpool stand second in the Premier League, albeit seven points behind Manchester United, but still in their best title position for seven years coming in to March?

Those are the facts. And the reasons why Liverpool must do everything in their power to keep the man who is still their best chance of a stable and glorious future.

I can see why there are those irritated by Benitez.

He treats questions on his future like a skier approaches slalom poles, the easy ones to be squirmed around, the more difficult to be shouldered aside, the rest to be ploughed straight through.

He should stop whining and put the club first, say his critics. End the uncertainty. Sign a new contract.

But can anyone really blame him if he wants to play hard ball?

After all, he is dealing with American owners in Tom Hicks and George Gillett who attempted to line up Jurgen Klinsmann to take over at Anfield less than two years ago.

He is dealing with owners who cannot stand to sit themselves in the same section of the Anfield directors' box, so strained is their relationship, and a chief executive in Rick Parry who Benitez appears to believe has been tardy in delivering his transfer targets.

Hardly surprising then that contract talks are strained and conducted through advisors and solicitors.

If personalities were the sole problem then perhaps Benitez would have signed his contract by now.

But there is another problem in that Liverpool is up for sale. Anyone prepared to slap £500 million ($1.1 billion) on the table could walk away with one of the world's top six clubs right now.

Truth

The truth, however, is that in the current financial meltdown no-one is likely to offer more than £300m. But, if someone did, who might take over? Who might be paying Benitez's salary next season?

So much doubt and uncertainty. It is why the Spaniard is thought to want a clause in his contract allowing him to walk if he does not like any new employers.

It is also perhaps why Hicks and Gillett do not want to give guarantees on budgets which might be a deal-breaker for any potential buyer.

The difficulties at a club which used to be so straight-forward are clear, even if seeing through Benitez is not always quite so easy.

'I am really pleased with my position at the club,' he says while looking anything but pleased.

'I have not been thinking about resigning. My aim is to win every game and my advisors will continue to talk.'

Continue to try to get for Benitez what Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and Arsene Wenger at Arsenal already have. Control over the academy. Control over how they spend their budgets.

Yet here's a thing. Fifteen of the 18 players who competed so creditably in Madrid were brought to Liverpool by Benitez, who commands loyalty from players and spectators alike.

That is a fact. One which is so much more relevant than all those rumours.