London - Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez admitted on Monday that he is concerned the ongoing talks over his new contract are disrupting the club's title challenge.

Liverpool lie second in the Premier League table, but their form has stuttered over the past six weeks, coinciding with a public spat over Benitez's future.

Benitez's contract expires in 2010. He was believed to have demanded complete control over transfer policy, something he now denies.

"Anyone that has just a year left on his contract does not have anything at all and I have only got a year and a half left," Benitez told The Guardian.

London, Feb. 16: England midfielder David Beckham has insisted that last night's Milan derby defeat will not wreck his hopes of staying on in Italy.

AC Milan went down 2-1 to Inter and Becks said: "This result should not make one bit of difference. I'm aware they want me for the rest of the season."

Rome  - Juventus' Brazilian Amauri levelled the opener from Sampdoria's Giampaolo Pazzini for a 1-1 draw that pushed Juve to within six points of leaders Inter Milan, who play a late city derby with AC Milan.

Ten-man Genoa drew 3-3 against Fiorentina, who rallied from three goals down and retained the fourth available Champions League berth, which became harder to reach for Roma after a harsh 3-0 beating away to in-form Atalanta.

London, Feb. 15 : England mid-fielder David Beckham has admitted quite candidly that his two seasons with the American football club L A Galaxy have been far from satisfactory, and he continues to look forward to playing with Italian football giants A C Milan.

London, Feb. 15: England mid-fielder David Beckham has admitted quite candidly that his two seasons with the American football club L A Galaxy have been far from satisfactory, and he continues to look forward to playing with Italian football giants A C Milan.

London, Feb. 15 : Italian football club A C Milan is likely to offer England mid-fielder David Beckham an 18-month contract to stay with the club after his loan period is over.

The Italians are drawing up a contract that will take the former England captain through to the eve of the World Cup in South Africa.

According to News of The World, A C Milan is insisting on striking a deal with the American football club L A Galaxy, which has demanded that Beckham be returned to it on March 9.