Manager vows to fight on as Liverpool hit new low

His team crashed out of the FA Cup in a third-round replay at home to Championship side Reading on Wednesday to put even more pressure on the Spaniard.

Liverpool's faltering season has already seen them exit the Champions League at the group stage – the first time that has happened since Benitez took over – drop out of the Premier League title race and fall behind Manchester City and Tottenham in the running for a top-four place.

Anfield co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are reluctant to make a change of manager midway through the season, and in the wake of the Reading defeat, club sources have stressed Benitez's job is safe.

"We are not playing well and everyone here feels sorry for our fans," said Benitez, who insists he is focusing all his efforts on today's must-win match at Stoke. "This is a bad moment, we are not doing well during the season, we know have to improve and we have the belief we can do it.

"If I am worried about my position or the future of the club at this moment I will lose my focus. Stoke is the most important game now and we have to prepare properly. I cannot be worried about the other things. My future is Stoke now."

Benitez last season signed a new long-term deal worth between 3million and 4m a year. He stressed he is a fighter and is determined to get through Liverpool's recent difficulties.

"It is true I like to do my best every time. If I signed a five-year contract it is because I wanted to fight," he added.

Meanwhile, Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has pleaded with the club's owners to buy new players.

Torres said: "It's frustrating. We finished second last season. This season should have been a turning point for us – a chance to do something great... But it hasn't been. It's now the owners' turn. They have to sign players so that this does not happen again. If we want to compete with Manchester United and Chelsea we need a much, much more complete squad."