Liverpool fans have more reason than most to hate Sun journalists. Now they have another after Rupert Murdoch's hacks reported that Rafa Benitez will be axed should his side lose to Inter Milan in the Champions League.

This rumour is based on the cack-handed theory that potential new investors DIC will sack Benitez if his team fail to get past the Serie A champions. It seems that this report comes as a kind of half-witted response to the Spaniard's fury over an 'exclusive' in the Sun's sister paper, the News of the World. The best-selling Sunday tabloid claimed he had  blamed the club's owners for Liverpool's title downfall, but Rafa insisted the report had completely twisted his words to the Spanish press.

The Anfield boss vented his anger at the News of the World article by stating: “It’s no surprise. Everybody in Liverpool knows that there are two newspapers that you cannot trust, this is one of them.”

'I think Merseysiders can figure out for themselves what to believe'


I think it’s brave and correct of Rafa to fight back at the constant stream of unsettling rumours, usually without basis, created by just about every tabloid. Unfortunately this will invariably result in more bad press, but I think  Merseysiders can figure out for themselves what to believe.

In any case, Benitez's achievements as Liverpool boss thus far should ensure that any reasonable owner wouldn’t dream of firing him.