And we thought United were in trouble…

What about Liverpool? Their abject defeat at the hands of Reading was their twelfth – yes 12th – a dozen – defeat this season. Gillette and Hicks must be cursing the generosity of Rafa’s contract…

Because if it wasn’t a potential cost of £20m he would surely be fired by now. Not to knock his achievements up to this season; a Champions League win, a loss in another final, and what should have been a Premier League triumph last season – but he has taken the club as far as he can. He is in a cul-de-sac, smashing his head into a brick wall. His judgement has gone, his priorities skewed, his vision tunnelled.

Liverpool are meant to be a classy outfit – but refusing to sack your manager because it would be too expensive, despite his detrimental effect on the team, is not befitting one.

Yes Rafa has financial restrictions – but they do not excuse the depths of mediocrity to which his team have sunk. Torres went off early again, and a possible two week absence is being mooted. That is worrying enough for Liverpool and their fans, but what must be even more concerning is whether his absence will be permanent come the summer. He cannot be happy with the detritus he is playing alongside, and must want to play for a side challenging for honours. Unless Rafa goes and money is made available, that won’t happen at Anfield.

Their other key player, Steven Gerrard, has been immensely disappointing this season. Admittedly playing alongside the spastic that is Lucas doesn’t help, but nevertheless his form is hugely worrying. That applies to England too, in a World Cup year. We (England) must hope he is underperforming because his focus is on South Africa.

And Rafa is SO pigheaded – remember him changing his team for the sake of it, for 99 matches, just because everyone told him not to. Remember him wasting Robbie Keane because he didn’t want him. Now note his refusal to cut his losses on Ryan Babel – £12m, considering the performances he has put in, should make him eat Alex McCleish alive let alone bite his hand off.

He is so stubborn and arrogant it is infuriating. And I am a neutral.

Like United against Leeds, Liverpool were not beaten flukily by a side they outplayed. Reading were the better side throughout, and fully deserved their victory.

Liverpool have, under Rafa’s guidance, become a hugely average team with only two standout players. When they (Gerrard and Torres obviously) don’t turn up through form and/or fitness Liverpool are genuinely no better than Birmingham. And the league table reflects that.

If Liverpool are to retain any semblance of the class that has made them one of the most famous and respected clubs in world football, Rafa has to go. And to retain any semblance of a chance of emulating their performance last season any time soon, the team has to be overhauled.

As the sage that is Andy Townsend has just said (roughly):

They may be a mess upstairs – but they are more of a mess on the field.