Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks made a surprise visit to watch yesterday's 2-0 victory over Bolton and posed a few questions as to why he had attended a relatively low-key fixture when there was a Merseyside derby next weekend.

He was not, however, bringing a last-minute transfer window war chest for the Spaniard to spend to help Liverpool secure the Champions League football which is so vital to their future.

"If he is around I will see him. It is good to see him here. It is always positive," said Benitez when asked if Hicks had come for a meeting.

The Liverpool manager stressed Hicks was not involved in the club's transfers in any way and his input was not required nor welcome.

"For us we are working hard on a daily basis with the managing director so it is not a big difference," added Benitez.

"We have a managing director and a chief scout and we are working together.

"We don't need more people deciding about any player."

A group of a hundred or so supporters staged a noisy protest against Hicks and George Gillett's running of the club outside the ground after the match.

Reports today suggested the co-owners' search for outside investment will see them drop their asking price to around £100million for up to a 50% share.

Should they be successful that could see the beginning of the end of the Americans' tumultuous and controversial tenure at the club but, at the moment, that is still a long way off.