Pressure unlikely to wane on Rafa

Benitez Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is certainly feeling the heat at Anfield, but after the Reds’ Champions League group stage exit on Tuesday, chief executive Christian Purslow insists Benitez’s job “is under no threat”.

The Reds won 1-0 against Debrecen on Tuesday, but Fiorentina’s home win over Lyon meant the end of the road in Europe’s premiere club competition – the first time in six years the club have been knocked out at the first hurdle.
But Purslow refused to panic after the final whistle and pledged his support for the Spanish supremo.

Purslow said: “You can never predict last-minute goals, which have cost us dear in the Champions League. That’s no basis to make managerial decisions.

“We don’t run our business in that respect. I’m on the record as saying Rafa’s signed a new five-year contract, he’s four months into that contract so to discuss that is not appropriate. He is under no threat.”

Referring to the financial damage of missing out on qualification from the group phase, Purslow added: “It’s limited actually. Assuming we have a reasonable run in the Europa League then we are financially neutral for this year.”

Liverpool, who have not won a trophy since their 2006 FA Cup win, will now go into the Europa League but the pressure on Benitez is hardly likely to ease.

Whilst the Merseysiders were desperate to maintain their Champions League progress, the club have tasted success in Europe’s second competition – winning the then named UEFA Cup against Alaves back in 2001. And they have already been installed as the 6/1 favourites to repeat their 2001 success next May and the Kop’s Europa League expectation levelswill be difficult to keep a lid on especially if Premier League results continue to go against them.