CASH LIFELINE FOR RAFA.

LIVERPOOL'S owners have secured a pounds 350million loan to refinance the club, after pledging more funds for Anfield.

That will allow manager Rafa Benitez to resist a Spanish armada trying to tempt three of his top stars away from Anfield.

Barcelona are desperate to land midfielder Javier Mascherano, and have also been linked with unsettled Yossi Benayoun while Real Madrid will try to seduce Xabi Alonso back to Spain after their dramatic world-record swoop yesterday for Ronaldo.

But Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has found a pounds 200million buyer for his Montreal Canadiens ice hockey franchise.

And with Tom Hicks also close to selling half his stake in the Texas Rangers baseball franchise, the pair have been told that the refinancing with the Royal Bank of Scotland and American bank Wachoiva is a formality.

CAPTION(S):

BOOST Benitez will keep his stars