LIVERPOOL, August 15, 2008 (AFP) - Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insists he is not to blame for the club's increasingly farcial bid to sign Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry.

Benitez still wants to buy Barry even though the England international is now cup-tied for the first phase of the Champions League, having played for Villa in the UEFA Cup this week.

Barry is desperate to move to Anfield and even Villa boss Martin O'Neill, who previously claimed the deal was off, is aware his star player could leave before the transfer window closes.

But the deal is no closer to a conclusion because Villa are holding out for 18 million pounds and Liverpool's directors refuse to pay that amount.

Benitez believes Liverpool's chief executive Rick Parry and the club's hierarchy must shoulder the responsibility for the close-season's longest running transfer saga.

'I will try to be very clear over the (Barry) situation. Everyone has been talking and it seems that the blame is put on me,' Benitez said.

'I get blamed for everything, for global warming to high petrol prices. But in this case I want to be very clear. Since I talked to Martin O'Neill about the situation in April, I have not talked to anyone at Aston Villa.

'All the talks have been between our chief executive Rick Parry, the owner and the chief executive of Aston Villa. And those talks have all been pretty good.

'So if anyone wants to talk about Barry in the future they must talk with the owner, Rick Parry or the chief executive of Aston Villa. And as I have said, those talks I understand have been good.

'I was not involved in the talks about Barry, I was not involved in the talks about (Xabi) Alonso and Arsenal. If you want to talk about these players you must talk to the chief executive of our club who was handling the discussions.

'If you want to talk about players, then you talk to Rick Parry. If you want to talk about football, then you talk with me.'

Benitez's side start their bid for a first English title since 1990 at Sunderland on Saturday.

Despite Barry's absence, Benitez is convinced he has assembled a squad capable of ending Manchester United's reign as champions.

'You have to be opportunistic when you have a squad like ours. I would just like our Olympic players back to help us,' he said. 'But we will probably have one player in the final the rest can return soon.

'The age of the squad is much lower, they are good players and can be a very good team for now and the future.

'Our fans want a trophy every season. They would want the league title, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the League Cup in that order.

'But if you asked me what I would prefer, then I would say I agree with our supporters.'