There's growing fears inside Liverpool of a mass exodus of the club's top players after the departure of Rafa Benitez. The Independent says the end of Benitez's six-year tenure, which was confirmed at around 3.45pm, has been greeted with dismay by the Liverpool squad and a well-placed source has confirmed that he is unlikely to be the only person leaving Merseyside this summer.

Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and Pepe Reina, according to sources inside the club, are all considering the futures.

Although Reina has only recently signed a six-year contract, he is thought to be furious at the developments, while Mascherano and Torres are equally concerned, not just about Benitez's exit but also by the lack of funds available to strengthen the squad. It is the combination of those two issues that is thought to lie behind the belief that they could be on their way.