Club backs Benitez but Kop and former stars lose faith

Bye, bye Benitez - that's the message on Merseyside following Liverpool's midweek humiliation at the hands of Championship side Reading in the FA Cup. Coming on the back of a dismal Champions League pool performance and inconsistent form in the Premier League, the defeat seems to have been the tipping point for the Liverpool faithful.

Benitez was booed by fans as he left Anfield on Wednesday night and ex-players are now joining the chorus of discontentment with the Spaniard. "He should have gone a long time ago. They've got to do it now," says former Liverpool legend Ronnie Whelan, adding that: "Liverpool have not been good. They have lost 10 of the last 20 games."

Whelan's sentiments were echoed by another old-timer, ex-Republic of Ireland midfielder Jason McAteer, who said: "Sometimes you just can't defend that kind of performance [against Reading]. It was poor."

Benitez, however, signalled after Wednesday's defeat that he has no intention of quitting and the Liverpool board were equally robust in their defence of their manager. The club's managing director Christian Purslow told the BBC that Benitez's position is "not on the agenda" and he has the full support of the board for the rest of the season as Liverpool attempt to finish in the top four of the Premier League and secure a place in next season's Champions League.

But the club's "vote of confidence" in their manager has only served to heighten speculation in the press that a replacement is being lined up. Among the names mentioned are Alex McLeish, currently doing good things with Birmingham, and Guus Hiddink.

Hiddink is in charge of the Russian national team at the moment but he is set to leave that position shortly and he has told friends he would relish the opportunity to take charge at Anfield. The 63-year-old Dutchman coached Chelsea for a four-month spell last season - which included leading the Blues to FA Cup glory - and fell in love with the Premier League. "I have to speak to the federation president before making any decision on my future," said Hiddink, "but it is true I would love to coach in England again."

For former Liverpool defender turned BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson what will probably be the deciding factor in Benitez's future is the reaction of the Kop. "The club have said they will wait and see whether they qualify for the Champions League but there will come a time, especially if they go out of the Europa League early, where the crowd will end up making the decision for the board," he said. "He [Benitez] has promised the supporters the club will finish in the top four but they look further away from doing that than probably they ever have since he's been there."

With Fernando Torres sidelined for six weeks with a torn knee cartilage, Steven Gerrard out for a fortnight with a hamstring problem and Yossi Benayoun recovering from a fractured rib, the prospects of Liverpool staging a revival look remote. Benitez might be best advised to start packing his bags. ·