It seems yet again that it will be the CL or nothing for the Reds boss - would another trophy-less season signal the end of his time at Anfield?
Another day, another draw at Anfield. A season that had rarely inspired but remained inconspicuously solid has hit that ominous slide prophesized by Sir Alex Ferguson all those weeks ago. Liverpool are out of both domestic cups and now seven points behind Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table.
The Reds had the better of the game on Sunday and were unfortunate not to take three points from a Manchester City side that are still not looking anything near their worth. That being said, a more flattering post-mortem for Rafa & Co. provides little comfort when coming to the realization that it's still a dead body that's staring them in the face: their chances of league success are dead in the water for yet another season.
They were at one point as far as 10 points in the clear - although at that stage United had games in hand - but Rafa's 'mind games' opus has since seen the Reds' terminal deficiencies come right out of remission to shatter their confidence and further strengthen bitter rivals United's claim to be the new Kings of England, with a potential third consecutive championship that would pull them level with Liverpool's all-time league title haul of 18.
Benitez has ultimately failed to build on his Champions League triumph in 2005, a fairytale ending to his first season in charge at Anfield. He took a team with only half the quality of his current squad far further than their calibre would have suggested, and even beyond what any supporter would have expected. Without that unbelievable run, Rafa would have long been out of a job and few fans would have had a second thought about it.
He has since overspent and underachieved. Complaining about a lack of backing from the boardroom would be one thing, but to bemoan not having the spending power of United or Chelsea while wasting as much as £20 million on Robbie Keane and going in for a £17m Gareth Barry with Xabi Alonso already in your ranks borders on absurd delusion. Rafa has had more than enough money to compete for the title, but beyond the big-money signings of Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano, he has simply not spent well enough and has thus been reduced to shoe-horning the likes of Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt into positions they are not fit to play at the highest level.
There is only so much time a single title can buy any manager, and Liverpool's progress under Benitez has been minimal in proportion to that of teams both above and below them in the table. At some point, the fans need to get past Istanbul and accept that a fresh direction is needed at Anfield if they are to stand any chance of returning to their all-conquering former selves. To become the new Manchester United - or rather, the old Liverpool.
But what if he does it again? Real Madrid loom on Wednesday and if there's one thing you can say about Rafa Benitez, it's that on his day - somehow, some way - he can beat anyone. Should that be enough to keep him in the Red hotseat? No. Will it? Most certainly yes.
So once more, all Rafa's eggs are in the Champions League basket and his job is all but on the line. In light of the fact-loving Spaniard's current strained relationship with his superiors, for them to bend to his will - as it will evidently have to be - will take something incredibly special. They will need to win it, and while they are far from favourites, one thing Rafa can guarantee them at this moment in time that almost no other manager can is a fighting chance.
Another day, another draw at Anfield. A season that had rarely inspired but remained inconspicuously solid has hit that ominous slide prophesized by Sir Alex Ferguson all those weeks ago. Liverpool are out of both domestic cups and now seven points behind Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table.
The Reds had the better of the game on Sunday and were unfortunate not to take three points from a Manchester City side that are still not looking anything near their worth. That being said, a more flattering post-mortem for Rafa & Co. provides little comfort when coming to the realization that it's still a dead body that's staring them in the face: their chances of league success are dead in the water for yet another season.
They were at one point as far as 10 points in the clear - although at that stage United had games in hand - but Rafa's 'mind games' opus has since seen the Reds' terminal deficiencies come right out of remission to shatter their confidence and further strengthen bitter rivals United's claim to be the new Kings of England, with a potential third consecutive championship that would pull them level with Liverpool's all-time league title haul of 18.
Benitez has ultimately failed to build on his Champions League triumph in 2005, a fairytale ending to his first season in charge at Anfield. He took a team with only half the quality of his current squad far further than their calibre would have suggested, and even beyond what any supporter would have expected. Without that unbelievable run, Rafa would have long been out of a job and few fans would have had a second thought about it.
He has since overspent and underachieved. Complaining about a lack of backing from the boardroom would be one thing, but to bemoan not having the spending power of United or Chelsea while wasting as much as £20 million on Robbie Keane and going in for a £17m Gareth Barry with Xabi Alonso already in your ranks borders on absurd delusion. Rafa has had more than enough money to compete for the title, but beyond the big-money signings of Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano, he has simply not spent well enough and has thus been reduced to shoe-horning the likes of Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt into positions they are not fit to play at the highest level.
There is only so much time a single title can buy any manager, and Liverpool's progress under Benitez has been minimal in proportion to that of teams both above and below them in the table. At some point, the fans need to get past Istanbul and accept that a fresh direction is needed at Anfield if they are to stand any chance of returning to their all-conquering former selves. To become the new Manchester United - or rather, the old Liverpool.
But what if he does it again? Real Madrid loom on Wednesday and if there's one thing you can say about Rafa Benitez, it's that on his day - somehow, some way - he can beat anyone. Should that be enough to keep him in the Red hotseat? No. Will it? Most certainly yes.
So once more, all Rafa's eggs are in the Champions League basket and his job is all but on the line. In light of the fact-loving Spaniard's current strained relationship with his superiors, for them to bend to his will - as it will evidently have to be - will take something incredibly special. They will need to win it, and while they are far from favourites, one thing Rafa can guarantee them at this moment in time that almost no other manager can is a fighting chance.
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