London, Nov. 17 : Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has threatened to quit if star striker Fernando Torres bids adieu to the club because of its current financial mess.

“It won''t happen. I''d quit. I''m confident it will never happen. If it did, I''d resign,” Benitez said.

The cash-strapped club owes a mammoth 245million pounds after the takeover by Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Benitez has been severely criticised for his team’s lacklustre performance both at home and in Europe.

But the 49-year old Liverpool boss has hit back at his critics, saying that the Reds’ health is as rude as ever.’

“There is a massive difference between five years ago and now. The name of the club round the world is at the same level as it was in the 1980s,” The Sun quoted Benitez, as saying.

“It''s a fantastic achievement. Everybody talks about Liverpool in a good way. And we will get better,” he vowed. (ANI)