Out of the Champions League. Out of the Premiership title race. Out of the Carling Cup.

Right now Liverpool are In a shocking state.

It’s become embarrassing for their fans.

Humiliating even, especially as this was supposed to be the season when the Anfield outfit claimed the championship for the first time since 1990.

The fear is that it could get worse.

Despite all this Rafael Benitez retains the support of the majority of Liverpool supporters, especially those living in Merseyside.

Reasons?

1) He gave them the greatest night of their lives with that Champions League triumph in 2005.

2) The hatred of the American owners who have been involved in a bitter power struggle with the Spaniard.

3) Signing Fernando Torres.

4) Outlining some ‘facts’ about Sir Alex Ferguson and a certain 4-1 win at Old Trafford.

5) It’s the Kop way. Not for them to call for the head of a manager at the first sign of trouble.

If results continue to be negative, however, surely even all of the above and a recently signed five-year contract won’t save Rafa.

Benitez arrived in the summer of 2004 taking over from Gerard Houllier at a time when Liverpool followers had lost a lot of hope in their hearts.

Watching Liverpool lately has had echoes of the last days of Houllier’s eventful reign.

Back then strange tactical decisions, bizarre team selections and crazy substitutions were the norm.

There were far too many players who clearly couldn’t be bothered playing for the club and were never good enough in the first place.

All that led to increasing frustration amongst the few class acts in the team who started questioning their future at the club.

One of those was Steven Gerrard. Five years on he is still with the Reds.

Can you imagine where they would be without him?

Well, Liverpool fans should perhaps start.

And while they are at it think about life without Torres as well.

Liverpool cannot win the Champions League this year after their pitiful exit in the group stages, therefore the only way they can qualify for next season’s tournament is to finish in the top four in the Premier League.

On current form, that’s not likely with Spurs, Aston Villa and Manchester City all confident of finishing above Benitez’s men.

If that happens and the best Liverpool can offer is the Europa League, Torres and Gerrard will be on their way.

And you could hardly blame them.

These two are amongst the top five players on the planet.

They should be feasting at a glorious banquet, not snacking on a cheap carry out.

If in the unlikely event, the dynamic duo wanted to stay, the American owners would probably put them up for sale anyway to recoup lost Champions League revenue.

It would help Liverpool, of course, if the pair of them were fit for any length of time.

Guarantee that and I’m certain that Benitez’s side would finish in the top four but with Liverpool at present you couldn’t be sure of anything.

While Benitez can’t help it if Gerrard or Torres get injured again, he can do something about the deadwood that is weighing the club down.

Ryan Babel, Andriy Vorinin, Andrea Dossena and Philip Degen must go in the January sales. The Dutchman, in particular, is a disgrace. He may have ability, but his commitment is sorely lacking.

New blood in attack to support Torres is required when the transfer window opens and before then Alberto Aquilani must play in midfield rather than the distinctly average Lucas.

Liverpool are getting criticism from all quarters, but the best form of defence is attack. Like he did for the final few months of last season to great effect, Benitez must go against his natural instincts and give his players freedom to go at the opposition, starting at Everton on Sunday.

It’s the only way out of trouble for Liverpool. And it’ll be the only way to grab that Champions League place aand keep the brilliant Torres and Gerrard.

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Interesting to see that the players are going to give the Wigan fans their money back after that 9-1 demolition at Spurs.

Even though the Wigan players can well afford it, it is still a decent gesture, but I wonder if it opens up a can of worms.

For instance will the Celtic and Rangers players be dishing out money at Parkhead and Ibrox over the coming weeks for their dismal displays in Europe?