Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez faces the defining four days of his first season in England insisting on his club's right to defend the Champions League if they do win the trophy.

The Spaniard has been shocked by the furore surrounding the possibility of Everton finishing fourth - ahead of the Anfield side in the Premiership - and being nominated by the English Football Association to enter next season's Champions League instead of Liverpool, even if his side win this season's competition.

The wrangle clouds the club's penultimate home league game of the season against Middlesbrough as well as next Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Chelsea at Anfield.

But Benitez can claim to having seen a precedent set in his homeland in the 1999/2000 season when Real Madrid won the European Cup and finished fifth in La Liga.

Real Zaragoza were fourth, but the Spanish FA nominated Madrid to defend their crown and sent Zaragoza into the Uefa Cup.

Uefa have already intimated that they would expect the English FA to follow that example, but have no clear rules to force such an outcome and must wait for a decision from Soho Square - which will not be announced until after Tuesday's game with Chelsea.

Benitez believes the FA want the decision taken away from them by the outcome of Liverpool's European campaign.

He said: "The FA have a big problem, normally if you win a trophy then common sense says that you must defend it next season.

"They are waiting for a solution to appear because it is so difficult for them to make a decision. There was a precedent in Spain, and I always say you must use common sense - if you win a trophy you must be allowed to defend it.

"I do not remember there being too much disagreement in Spain when Real Madrid won the trophy and were nominated ahead of Real Zaragoza, who were fourth." And Benitez even implied that Liverpool would have more chance of future success in Europe than Everton.

He said: "It was Real Madrid, it was normal. What are you talking about, to defend the name of your country in Europe?

"If Real Madrid were in Europe at the end then you know they can win the trophy. I am sure Zaragoza were disappointed, but I say again, it was the normal decision to make."

He added: "Yes, there is no guarantee we will be in the Champions League next season even if we do win it, I know. It seems to be a special rule.

"I think common sense is the real solution - all we can do is try to beat Chelsea and win the final. And yes, I think then we should be allowed into the competition next season."

Benitez knows all the wrangling will be ended if Liverpool somehow revive their season and snatch fourth place from Everton, who need just two wins from four games to end that Anfield dream.

Benitez, who will have Dietmar Hamann and Harry Kewell back in his squad after injury for today's game against Middlesbrough, added: "It is good for us to have Hamann and Kewell back although they need a better physical condition. But is is good they are now extra options because of their experience."

Meanwhile, Benitez has declined the opportunity to deny he interested in Real Madrid star Luis Figo. Figo has been strongly linked with Liverpool in the Spanish media, while Benitez has been fighting a rearguard action to keep Steven Gerrard at Anfield all season. There has been speculation that Chelsea have turned their attention from the England midfielder to other targets, including Argentina international Javier Mascherano of River Plate.