Oliver Holt says Liverpool must stick with Rafael Benitez long-term in the wake of another turbulent week for the Anfield club.
News that chief executive Rick Parry will leave the club at the end of the season appears to have made it more likely that the Spaniard will sign a new deal soon.
Benitez's impressive record in Europe continued this week when the Reds overcame Real Madrid 1-0 in the Champions League thanks to a Yossi Benayoun strike.
But the domestic picture is not so rosy as Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Middlesbrough appears to have ended any fading hopes co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett will have had of savouring Premier League glory this season.
"Benitez has won the power struggle but lost the league, but in a way that's been the story of his reign at Liverpool," said the Daily Mirror's Holt.
"The league has always been the thing that's eluded him and the Champions League, where he again had an amazing result on Wednesday is the tournament where he's excelled.
"The thing is his record in the Champions League alone demands that they do everything they possibly can to keep hold of him.
"He is improving Liverpool's record all of the time in the domestic competition - ok they are not there yet, but that's because they haven't got the personnel.
"They are not as good as Manchester United but that is a massive task, to become as good as Manchester United in the domestic competition.
"In the circumstances what he's achieved in Europe has been amazing and they've got to try and keep him and presumably, that is part of the reason why Rick Parry has left, because Tom Hicks who is more of an ally of Benitez than (George) Gillett has realised that."
Martin Samuel, of the Daily Mail, said: "He is exceptional at getting his side to punch above its weight in Europe but you can't do that for 38 matches in a league.
"In the end you will find your own level in a league and that's what is happening this season because the way this league is going Manchester United could win by 10 or 15 points. That will show the level - that's how far ahead of they are of everyone else.
"I cannot think that there has ever been a better squad in English football than Manchester United at the moment because they do not play a weakened team.
"We all have our own idea of what their best first XI is but you could take five of those players out and put five in and it's not a weakened team."
News that chief executive Rick Parry will leave the club at the end of the season appears to have made it more likely that the Spaniard will sign a new deal soon.
Benitez's impressive record in Europe continued this week when the Reds overcame Real Madrid 1-0 in the Champions League thanks to a Yossi Benayoun strike.
But the domestic picture is not so rosy as Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Middlesbrough appears to have ended any fading hopes co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett will have had of savouring Premier League glory this season.
"Benitez has won the power struggle but lost the league, but in a way that's been the story of his reign at Liverpool," said the Daily Mirror's Holt.
"The league has always been the thing that's eluded him and the Champions League, where he again had an amazing result on Wednesday is the tournament where he's excelled.
"The thing is his record in the Champions League alone demands that they do everything they possibly can to keep hold of him.
"He is improving Liverpool's record all of the time in the domestic competition - ok they are not there yet, but that's because they haven't got the personnel.
"They are not as good as Manchester United but that is a massive task, to become as good as Manchester United in the domestic competition.
"In the circumstances what he's achieved in Europe has been amazing and they've got to try and keep him and presumably, that is part of the reason why Rick Parry has left, because Tom Hicks who is more of an ally of Benitez than (George) Gillett has realised that."
Martin Samuel, of the Daily Mail, said: "He is exceptional at getting his side to punch above its weight in Europe but you can't do that for 38 matches in a league.
"In the end you will find your own level in a league and that's what is happening this season because the way this league is going Manchester United could win by 10 or 15 points. That will show the level - that's how far ahead of they are of everyone else.
"I cannot think that there has ever been a better squad in English football than Manchester United at the moment because they do not play a weakened team.
"We all have our own idea of what their best first XI is but you could take five of those players out and put five in and it's not a weakened team."
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