Mark Lawrenson: Rafa Benitez is in crisis

By Mark Lawrenson

Published 23:34 21/10/09

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Rafa Benitez is stuck in a crisis at Anfield. Because, by Liverpool’s high standards, this really is a crisis.

The trouble is that Benitez has been in the job for more than five years and you have to ask yourself are they any closer to winning the league than when he took over.

At this moment, the answer would have to be no. But I still believe that Benitez will turn things around and make sure that Liverpool finish in the top four as that, ahead of anything else, is the pre-requisite of the job.

Every manager has a bad season one year. Arsene Wenger was questioned by Arsenal fans last season and Chelsea even sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari  midway through the campaign.

I certainly don’t think it’s anywhere near that stage yet for Rafa. A heavy defeat by Manchester United on Sunday may change things. Or even if things haven’t improved in the next two months.

But the biggest concern at this stage is that Liverpool are a two-man team. Five and a bit years into Rafa’s reign, and it’s all about Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

Pepe Reina has probably been Liverpool’s best player so far this season. Javier Mascherano is top quality but doesn’t drive or win games from midfield like Gerrard. The bench against Lyon - Skrtel, Voronin, Aurelio, Babel, Plessis, Cavalieri, Spearing - isn’t and wasn’t good enough.

There doesn’t seem to be enough long-term planning or foundations for success. Every summer, it’s three players in and three out. An endless stream of £10m players who don’t quite work out.

This summer, Benitez spent big on Glen Johnson and Alberto Aquilani. Splashing £18m on a right back is huge and Aquilani is yet to make his debut. The lads say he looks great in training but we’ve heard that a few times down the years.

There’s big pressure on Aquilani to salvage Liverpool’s season and certainly he will have to justify Benitez’s faith in him.

But the real issue here for me is what’s going on behind the scenes with George Gillet and Tom Hicks. I wouldn’t trust these guys to stir my tea.

Who does Rafa talk to now? There’s no direction or leadership from above. Just chaos, endless talk of financial problems and the club being sold on again. What a mess and that is bound to filter down and impact hugely on Benitez.