Rant: What's Going On At Anfield? 20 August, 2009

The new season's barely a week old, and already there were worries about Rafa Benitez's future at Liverpool. A day before their game against Stoke, rumours began to surface that Benitez had, (or was about to, depending on who you believe) leave his post. Hours later, things got worse as bookmakers stopped taking bets on him being the first Premiership manager to leave his club this season.

A good win against Stoke City, coupled with denials from both club and manager have since made things look more rosy, but Liverpool fans might worry about whether it is just paper over deeper running fault lines, and rightly so too.

Rafa Benitez is probably Liverpool's best manager in more than a decade. He has got them closer to the Premiership title than they have ever been since its inception, in addition to delivering the biggest prize in club football.

Fans who remember Gerard Houllier, or (worse) Roy Evans, or (gasp!) Graeme Souness will know how difficult it was in those days before Benitez took over.

Simply put, Liverpool have got to keep hold of Benitez to retain any real hope of winning silverware this season. Any upheaval in this area will yet again set them back a few steps.