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MARTIN O'NEILL has emerged as the man to replace Rafa Benitez.
American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have identified O'Neill to succeed the Spaniard if Liverpool fail to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Hicks, Gillett, and managing director Christian Purslow are standing by beleaguered Benitez despite Liverpool's woeful recent run of form.
But behind the scenes the mood of staunch support for Benitez has shifted as Liverpool's season has lurched towards chaos, with six defeats, one draw and just one win in their last eight games.
The club are wary of making a knee-jerk reaction but recognise that unless results improve dramatically - and soon - they will have to consider replacing Benitez during the season rather than next summer.
Kenny Dalglish has been tipped to hold the Anfield fort if Benitez IS sacked before May but he would only be keeping the seat warm for O'Neill (left).
Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Lyon leaves Liverpool's Champions League campaign in a precarious position and five Premier League defeats already this season means their first title since 1990 is a pipedream.
Failing to qualify for the Champions League next season would have a huge effect on Liverpool's already shaky financial position.
The club's budget is based largely on Champions League qualification and an absence from the top four would badly damage any chances of Hicks and Gillett refinancing the club's debt.
That is why Benitez's position is now being discussed by the club's hierarchy and they have come to the conclusion that O'Neill is the best suited and best placed to take the club forward.
Twenty months ago, when things were wobbling under Benitez, the club flirted with the idea of recruiting Jurgen Klinsmann. But the initial interest came to nothing and despite having done a good job as German national manager at the 2006 World Cup, Klinsmann's lack of credentials at club level were exposed last season at Bayern Munich, where he was sacked in April. Since then Liverpool have flirted with the idea of luring Jose Mourinho back to England to take up the one job the 'Special One' has consistently said would lure him back to the Premier League.
Frustrated
Given the current confused state of Liverpool's finances, however, it is unlikely the Inter Milan boss would want to take on the job at this stage of his career.
Certainly he would not be persuaded to leave Inter mid-season. And come next summer, it is more likely that he will be lured by Spanish giants Real Madrid.
O'Neill has always honoured his contracts at previous clubs but has become increasingly frustrated by how quickly the fans at Aston Villa have turned on him.
He took over at Villa in 2006 when the club was in turmoil following the reign of David O'Leary.
And he rapidly revived their fortunes and has led them into European football and even flirted with breaking in to the top four.
To most, O'Neill has done a fine job at re-establishing Villa as one of the country's top eight clubs. And so O'Neill can't understand why he can become so quickly subject to criticism from the stands.
He has worked well under the ownership of American Randy Lerner and the business model that has gone along with it.
O'Neill's ability to manage in that way has further impressed Yanks Hicks and Gillett, who have become increasingly wary of how quickly Benitez blames his inability to push Liverpool to the next level on a lack of transfer funds.
Last year, Benitez won a significant political battle when chief executive Rick Parry was ousted after the Spaniard had complained he should have total control of transfer business.
But it is understood that Gillett and Hicks are now sceptical of Benitez's ability in the transfer market - but have admired how well O'Neill has worked within budgets and in tandem with Villa owner Lerner's requirements.
American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have identified O'Neill to succeed the Spaniard if Liverpool fail to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Hicks, Gillett, and managing director Christian Purslow are standing by beleaguered Benitez despite Liverpool's woeful recent run of form.
But behind the scenes the mood of staunch support for Benitez has shifted as Liverpool's season has lurched towards chaos, with six defeats, one draw and just one win in their last eight games.
The club are wary of making a knee-jerk reaction but recognise that unless results improve dramatically - and soon - they will have to consider replacing Benitez during the season rather than next summer.
Kenny Dalglish has been tipped to hold the Anfield fort if Benitez IS sacked before May but he would only be keeping the seat warm for O'Neill (left).
Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Lyon leaves Liverpool's Champions League campaign in a precarious position and five Premier League defeats already this season means their first title since 1990 is a pipedream.
Failing to qualify for the Champions League next season would have a huge effect on Liverpool's already shaky financial position.
The club's budget is based largely on Champions League qualification and an absence from the top four would badly damage any chances of Hicks and Gillett refinancing the club's debt.
That is why Benitez's position is now being discussed by the club's hierarchy and they have come to the conclusion that O'Neill is the best suited and best placed to take the club forward.
Twenty months ago, when things were wobbling under Benitez, the club flirted with the idea of recruiting Jurgen Klinsmann. But the initial interest came to nothing and despite having done a good job as German national manager at the 2006 World Cup, Klinsmann's lack of credentials at club level were exposed last season at Bayern Munich, where he was sacked in April. Since then Liverpool have flirted with the idea of luring Jose Mourinho back to England to take up the one job the 'Special One' has consistently said would lure him back to the Premier League.
Frustrated
Given the current confused state of Liverpool's finances, however, it is unlikely the Inter Milan boss would want to take on the job at this stage of his career.
Certainly he would not be persuaded to leave Inter mid-season. And come next summer, it is more likely that he will be lured by Spanish giants Real Madrid.
O'Neill has always honoured his contracts at previous clubs but has become increasingly frustrated by how quickly the fans at Aston Villa have turned on him.
He took over at Villa in 2006 when the club was in turmoil following the reign of David O'Leary.
And he rapidly revived their fortunes and has led them into European football and even flirted with breaking in to the top four.
To most, O'Neill has done a fine job at re-establishing Villa as one of the country's top eight clubs. And so O'Neill can't understand why he can become so quickly subject to criticism from the stands.
He has worked well under the ownership of American Randy Lerner and the business model that has gone along with it.
O'Neill's ability to manage in that way has further impressed Yanks Hicks and Gillett, who have become increasingly wary of how quickly Benitez blames his inability to push Liverpool to the next level on a lack of transfer funds.
Last year, Benitez won a significant political battle when chief executive Rick Parry was ousted after the Spaniard had complained he should have total control of transfer business.
But it is understood that Gillett and Hicks are now sceptical of Benitez's ability in the transfer market - but have admired how well O'Neill has worked within budgets and in tandem with Villa owner Lerner's requirements.
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