Liverpool-Hull City Preview

May 7, 2010 - 5:10 PM GEOFF McALLISTER STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Liverpool bring their disappointing season to a close at Hull on Sunday with uncertainty remaining over the long-term future of manager Rafa Benitez.

Benitez is being courted by Italian giants Juventus and with Liverpool's ownership issues unresolved and the chance of star names Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres leaving Anfield in the summer to pursue Champions League football, the Spaniard's departure remains a real possibility.

Benitez met with new Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton and managing director Christian Purslow to discuss the future of the club and the talks were said to be 'constructive'.

Liverpool announced losses of 54.9 million pounds for the financial year ending 2009 and with no new owners on the horizon the chances of Benitez having a significant transfer war chest appear slim.

A club spokesman, with the manager remaining tight-lipped ahead of the trip to Hull, said: "We are pleased that the first of what is intended to be a series of meetings took place between the chairman, managing director and the manager. The meeting was constructive.

"The chairman shared his views about plans for the future of the club. There was an exchange of views on issues of concern to both the board and the manager which were either addressed or to be picked up in forthcoming meetings."

Another big name who could be departing Anfield is long-standing defender Jamie Carragher who will not open talks about a new contract until the start of next season.

Carragher said: "I have spoken to the manager about it and we both agreed that it would be better if we talked about it at the start of next season.

"I do not want to retire yet. I understand at my age you can only make decisions season by season but I want to finish my career at Liverpool. I do not want to play for anyone else."

Carragher is hopeful of recovering from a twisted knee to make the trip to the KC Stadium but Argentine midfielder Maxi Rodriguez is out with a thigh problem.

If he plays the defender will make his 435th league appearance for his boyhood idols \2013 surpassing Alan Hansen's club record.

Relegated Hull fear a player exodus in the summer as the club frantically attempts to balance the books ahead of the next season's Championship campaign.

Interim boss Iain Dowie believes midfielder Jimmy Bullard will be one of the first to leave the KC with winger Stephen Hunt also admitting he does not expect to be playing for the club next season.

Dowie himself is a doubt to be in charge for next season with the club's financial conundrum a priority over appointing a manager long-term.

Dowie said: "I would not be surprised if there is some movement there for Jimmy to play in the Premier League. Not because of anything other than the fact the wages are not sustainable.

"It has been a mixed bag for him this season and I think he would agree with that himself. But too much is talked about with Jimmy - it cannot always be just him being at the root of all problems.

"I think that's very harsh on the lad. He has come back and the team has been in a worse run of form and it is not as easy to flourish in a team that is not full of confidence."

Dowie, likely to be without Bullard and Caleb Folan, hopes his side can end a miserable season with a win against Liverpool to give their fans some cheer.

Dowie added: "We know the magnitude of the task against one of the giants of the game in Liverpool but I think it's very important we show what we were about.

"And, on our last hurrah for a period of time, we have got to make sure we show that we've brought value to the Premier League."