Rafael Benítez took over from Gérard Houllier on June 16, 2004. He came to Anfield with a somewhat promising résumé, mainly substantiated by his success with Valencia. Past owner David Moores obviously employed the Spaniard to break Liverpool’s English title drought, yet this would simply not occur.

Rafa arrived at the Shankly Gates to discover he was privileged to have players aboard such as Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Dietmar Hamann, Harry Kewell, Steve Finnan and Sami Hyypia. He was lavished with a team of experience and undeniable skill – players and a team who could and should have gone on to win the Premier League title.

Liverpool have not won the title since the old Division One days of 1989/1990 and under Rafa they have managed a total of four trophies – Champions League, Euro Super Cup, FA Cup and FA Community Shield. Two of those honours are regarded highly among the football community but ironically, neither Houllier nor Benitez have been fortunate nor good enough to win a title.

'Benitez, you promised titles, you promised glory, yet all that you have actually provided is inconsistency and false hope'


Many Liverpool supporters, upon interrogation by opposing supporters, seem to resort back to the 2005 Champions League win, claiming that they’d rather have that trophy than a measly English title.

Sure, the Champions League win was excellent, but we have moved on. Manchester United fans don’t go back to their squad of 1999, nor do Arsenal fans rely on the success of the 2003/2004 squad – they purely base their success on the current, the present and the now. Rafa deserves an A+ for trying, yet ultimately, it’s your end result that defines who and what you are.

In Rafa’s first season with Liverpool he made an immediate impact by bringing in two La Liga players, Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia. The following season, he signed Peter Crouch, Mohamed Sissoko, Jose Reina, Boudewijn Zenden, Daniel Agger and former Liverpool hero Robbie Fowler.

In 2006/2007 Liverpool signed Craig Bellamy, Jermaine Pennant and Mark Gonzalez. And last summer, Fernando Torres, Andriy Voronin, Yossi Benayoun, Ryan Babel and Lucas Leiva moved in. That is a total of 16 players and over £100m spent in just over three years - and for what? Rafa didn’t win Liverpool the Champions League in 2005. It was a team born and raised by his predecessor Houllier.

Liverpool FC was sold and bought on February 6, 2007 to American businessmen Tom Hicks and George Gillett for approximately £435m. They, like Moores, had faith in Rafa’s managerial skills and opened their transfer war chest for him to spend, spend and spend. Unlike at Valencia, where Benitez claimed that "I asked for a table and they bought me a lampshade", he was now open and allowed to spend as he pleased –  which he stubbornly did.

It was rumoured that Rafa was denied the power to control the proceedings of the current transfer period –  not being able to buy , sell or loan any players in or out. He had to deal with the team he had in hand. The Times, as well as the less reliable Tribal Football, reported that Rafa was on the brink of leaving, rather than actually being sacked.

Benitez, you failed as a player, now your destiny is to fail as a coach. Whilst you show signs of promise, your idiocy shines through at the most crucial of moments. You promised titles, you promised glory, yet all that you have actually provided is inconsistency and false hope.

The Kop ironically support your under-achievement, yet co-owners Hicks and Gillett have surely had enough. Mr Benitez, you can blame the referee, you can the blame the players, you can even blame your ‘lack’ of funding, yet in the end the buck stops with you. It’s time to go!