Rafa boost ahead of title push

Rafa Benitez will reportedly snub interest from Real Madrid and sign a two-year extension to his Liverpool contract before Christmas.

Benitez has revealed his advisers have opened negotiations with the club's owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, and further talks are planned in the next few weeks to finalise the deal.

It will certainly provide a boost for both the team and fans looking to use their £10 free bet ahead of Monday night's Premier League clash against West Ham, with the Reds looking to maintain their push at the top of the table.

The club are keen to tie the Spaniard down for a further two years to keep him at Anfield until 2012 and fend off renewed interest from the Primera Liga champions, who still see the Liverpool manager as their next coach.

Benitez is happy at the club and wants to sign an extension as soon as possible to stop any uncertainty over his future overshadowing a potential title challenge and affecting his players.

Star striker Fernando Torres has been sidelined for two to three weeks with a hamstring injury, meaning Robbie Keane should get an extended run in the side, starting with the Hammers match, while full-back Fabio Aurelio has been ruled out for a similar period with a calf problem.

Meanwhile, Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola should have a full squad at his disposal for the trip to Merseyside because Scott Parker is expected to recover from the illness that forced him to miss training, while Craig Bellamy is set to lead from the front against his former club.