Tom Hicks has put Rafa Benitez in a difficult position

The tradition of the club -- and the very thing that has made them so hugely respected -- is to do everything in-house. Not out in the open like this.

Rafa's situation is similar to the one that Jose Mourinho found himself in during his latter days at Chelsea when there was speculation in the papers for weeks on end that he would lose his job.

The fans might not like it, and understandably so, but the fact is that the owners of the club dictate what goes on.

Rafa can survive by winning games, but the fact that the owners were looking for a potential replacement means things don't look too good at the moment.

I know Jurgen well and I think he will do a fantastic job at Bayern Munich because he is a born winner who the players will have nothing but respect for.

But as far as Europe is concerned, Benitez is the best. No one knows more than him. Look at his record with Valencia. Look at the way he's taken Liverpool to two Champions League finals.

You only have to look at what he has achieved in the game to realise what a good manager he is.

What has to be said is that the current situation is undoubtedly unsettling for the players.

I never experienced anything like it in all my years at Anfield, but it did happen when I signed for Leeds United.

I went to Leeds to play for Howard Wilkinson but within a few months of getting there his position was in question and there was loads of speculation about his future.

That made things difficult for the players and it can be hard to keep your concentration when there is so much going on off the field.

But the Liverpool players have to forget all about that stuff because they are professionals and their job is to go out on the pitch and do a job for the club.

Uncertainty is unsettling but the best way of getting rid of uncertainty is winning games, and if Liverpool do that it will give Rafa Benitez a much better chance of keeping his job.