The Spaniard believes the Reds' supporters love him enough following his own successes at Anfield to allow a potential move to Stamford Bridge to succeed sacked Andre Villas-Boas

Rafael Benitez insists Liverpool fans would understand if he were to replace Andre Villas-Boas at Chelsea.

The Spaniard has been out of work since departing Inter in December 2010 and has become one of the prime candidates to take over from Villas-Boas after the Portuguese manager was sacked on Sunday, following the Blues’ defeat to West Brom.

When in charge of the Anfield club, Liverpool and Chelsea formed an intense rivalry, playing each other an astonishing 26 times during the Spaniard's six-year reign but the former Valencia boss is confident that Kopites would forgive him for joining the west Londoners.

"Can anybody argue [against the fact] that the Liverpool fans love me? No," Benitez told reporters.

"If we agree with this, what do you want for somebody who you love? The best for him. I cannot be waiting at home for five years. Everybody understands that I will need a job.

"If they want me to have the best, they can say you can manage a team at the bottom of the table or manage a team at a top of the table and try to win trophies. That is my idea, to have the option of a top side and try to win trophies. If they love me, they will understand.”

Benitez revealed that he has several options available to him but also maintained he wished to respect Chelsea's interim boss, Roberto Di Matteo.

He continued: "I have had two or three offers from clubs and one from a national team. I want to win trophies; it's not just a case of wanting a job and having some money. It has to be something.

“They have now Roberto Di Matteo in [temporary] charge, and I have to respect the manager in charge. I have to wait and [see] if something happens in the future. As a manager with experience in the Champions League, in Spain and in Italy, I am open to offers."