IT’S NINE STEPS TO RUIN FOR RAFA

LIVERPOOL finished with nine men at ­Fulham – and here are nine reasons why it’s all going wrong for Rafael Benitez.

1. Without captain Steven Gerrard, they have no real leadership.

2. They have to play striker Fernando Torres when he’s not fit, which is a joke.

3. Benitez has left himself woefully short of quality players, especially up front.

4. The Liverpool boss never admits that he is wrong.

5. The American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, are not running the club with any conviction or ­direction.

6. At Craven Cottage, the team lacked fight and heads went down.

7. Jamie Carragher is struggling to prove he is the defender he once was.

8. Benitez seems to believe – as he said after the 3-1 defeat – that you don’t have to win ­trophies to be a ­success. It’s not what the fans need to hear.

9. It’s only November, and Liverpool have left themselves no more room for error. They can’t ­afford to lose another game in any competition this season.

Their season hits crisis point in Lyon on Wednesday night in a must-win Champions League tie that is worth £15m.

Lose and the season is ­virtually over. Clearly, they are not going to win the Premier League.

It is understood the owners remain 100 per cent behind Benitez and the word inside Anfield is that Rafa is ­unsackable.

He is too powerful and there is no money to pay him off, ­anyway. That, again, is an ­extraordinary situation for a club of Liverpool’s size.

Benitez deserves success and time, of course, although Liverpool cannot let this drift along.

Eight days ago they were ­outstanding as they defeated ­Manchester United, a team driven by desire and passion.

But you can’t play like that for one and then a week later be so pitiful against a team that you should see off ­comfortably.

Something is wrong and for the first time Benitez looked under pressure as he watched things fall apart on the Fulham touchline.

The sweat poured down his cheeks and we have not seen that before.

Clearly, he is suffering. ­Inside he is in turmoil as he searches for the answers for such ­inconsistency.

At times of crisis, ­managers earn their money and live up to their reputation.

All of Liverpool is watching Benitez closely and the fans are desperate for him to turn this around.

For now, they remain with him. The moment the Kop turns will be a significant ­moment in this season of ­massive disappointment.

It is all down to Benitez. He has the power. He has to lead his proud club back to where they belong, challenging ­Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal for the title.

There are nine reasons why that is such a long way off.

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