Liverpool fans must back Rafael Benitez

Lisandro Lopez's sucker punch left Liverpool's European campaign staggering around on the ropes last night. Stranger things have happened than Lyon getting a draw in Florence on the 24th of November, but even if the French side do repay the generosity that Voronin showed towards them last night, Liverpool would still have to beat Fiorentina by 3 goals at Anfield to progress.

It's not over until the fat lady sings, but Liverpool are now facing the prospect of competing in the Europa League this season, an almighty fall from grace.

Assuming yet another improbable European comeback is beyond us this time around, Liverpool must now tackle this season's January transfer window without the prospect of Champions League revenue in the second half of the season. And since we are all now painfully aware of the limitations of our squad, this will probably ensure that the race for 4th place is far closer than we would like.

To be contemplating early elimination from the group stages whilst we look up the table to the likes of Tottenham and Man City occupying the European qualfication places in the Premier League table is a predicament that nobody could possibly have predicted. Having watched Liverpool surge through the second half of last season, battering Real Madrid and hitting Man Utd for four at Old Trafford, respected pundits such as Anfield legend Alan Hansen and BBC Chief Football Commentator Phil McNulty went so far as to predict an end to our 19-year wait for domestic success. But unfortunately, last season's title-challenge has proved to be yet another false dawn.

However, I for one do not feel that this season's massive disappointment should lead us to contemplate whether Rafa Benitez really is the right man to take Liverpool forward.

I recently performed my own analysis into Benitez's transfer record since arriving at Anfield, and there's no getting around the fact that many of his signings have not worked out. But it would be harsh on the Liverpool manager to ignore many of the mitigating circumstances that have surrounded some of the more disappointing arrivals.

Firstly, Benitez is seemingly being expected to build a squad capable of challenging for the Premier League title. But his annual net spending of around £15m per season is a fraction of the funds available to the men responsible for first team affairs at Chelsea and Manchester United. Is it any surprise that the league title has been stuck between those two clubs for the last five years?

Moreover, during most of his tenure Benitez has had to contend with an unworkable relationship with former Liverpool Chief Executive Rick Parry. Without speculating about where the difficulties arose or who was at fault, this sort of issue would inevitably inhibit any manager's transfer dealings.

Since Benitez has been at Liverpool, we have either won or come close to winning a major trophy in every single season. And although we'd love to return to the heady days of Paisley and Dalglish when "second was nowhere", I think a lot of Liverpool fans need to wake up to the fact that we are now in an era where money is everything and Liverpool haven't got any.

It is hard for me as a Liverpool fan to ask the following question, but are we setting our standards too high? Until we have a stable situation off the field and a stadium which generates enough revenue to provide truly competitive transfer kitty, isn't it dangerous to demand the head of any manager who cannot provide the league title?

I accept that Rafael Benitez is not perfect. He allowed his relationship with Xabi Alonso to disintegrate, and we are all now painfully aware of the damage done by the midfield playmaker's departure. He has taken a few seasons to learn that wholesale rotation of his squad is not compatible with domestic success. And he is notoriously stubborn, often doing himself no favours with his media outbursts.

But there is no better tactician in the world, and I still strongly believe that with the support of the club and the fans, he will move the club forward on and off the field.

Liverpool's current plight is dire. But unless a viable alternative can be found, the situation only gets worse without Benitez. And who is going to take over at a club where there is no transfer budget, two owners who do not get on, and success requires a league title?

It is said that Liverpool fans are some of the most knowledgeable in the world. Moreover we like to think of ourselves as loyal and capable of avoiding the temptation of knee-jerk reactions. And although there are still fans speaking out for what is right and sensible, radio and tv phone-ins have been inundated with frustrated callers who undermine our reputation.

This Monday, Liverpool have a must-win game against Birmingham City at Anfield. But off the field, there is another challenge to be overcome. Liverpool's fans have to step forward and prove that they are more loyal, more level-headed, and more passionate than any other in the land.

The best way to help alleviate the problems facing our club right now is to sing Rafa's name as loudly as possible. This will help the confidence of the players, and it will also ease media's scrutiny of the current regime.

Are we the best fans in the world? I think so, but we need to prove it on Monday.