Liverpool fans are widely known for their loyalty and support for whoever operates the Anfield hot seat. It’s a characteristic which influenced an added a season or two onto Gerard Houllier’s reign before he was ushered out The Shankly Gates in the summer of 2004.

A series of cup successes and a runners-up spot in the Premier League in 2002 – still the only time the reds have finished ahead of Manchester United in the Premier League – appeared to gift the Frenchman extra leeway for his final two flailing seasons in charge.

After finishing second to Arsenal that year with some of the best football us ‘pool fans had seen since the 80s, bookmakers took a substantial amount of money on Liverpool ending their title drought the following season, only to see them spectacularly fall back down to earth with a fifth place finish come May 2003.

Sound familiar? Of course it does. Fast-forward the best part of half a decade and Rafa Benitez, Houllier’s successor, finds himself in a similar predicament. Sunday’s 2-0 win in the Merseyside derby cannot offer even the most optimistic of Liverpool fans any hope of turning around this already wretched season.

With five defeats in the opening fourteen league games, the damage has already been done, and the less said about the early  exit the better. After Wayne Rooney’s poor-man’s hat-trick at Fratton Park, and Didier Drogba’s emphatic brace at the Emirates, the two best teams in the country continue to win at an alarmingly easy rate, while Benitez’s side lie some 13 points off the pace at the end of November with 10 points fewer than they had this time last season.

For all the support the Spaniard has from the Anfield faithful, myself included, his stubbornness is becoming increasingly frustrating. Despite two mediocre wins this week the side continue to struggle for any real fluency, so after spending a reported £20million on the clearly talented Alberto Aquilani, Benitez’s decision to repeatedly leave the Italian on the bench is even more baffling than his native language’s apparent need for inserting upside-down question marks on every written query.

My main concern now, however, is that I can see his reign going the way his French predecessor’s did. With Tottenham being rampant so far this season, and Aston Villa proving sturdy enough to grind out results, the prospect of finishing fifth a season after being runners-up is very, very genuine. The Londoners and the Villains have already notched up wins against Liverpool this season and I haven’t even mentioned Man City yet. All three offer the right credentials to finish ahead of Steven Gerrard and co., and so far the pressure has yet to get to them.

Benitez won’t be sacked – it’s too costly for the club after he signed a new five year deal in March of this year, a contract offer which could now leave the club owners with egg on their face. At the same time, it’s difficult to see the Spaniard quitting, for his stubbornness when under pressure can, at times, be even more pathetic than 34-year-old Gary Neville’s woeful attempts at growing facial hair. Come to think of it… maybe not quite that feeble.
What I will say is this – Liverpool should be monitoring Guus Hiddink’s situation with Russia. After failure to qualify for the World Cup, the Dutchman’s contract runs out next summer and, should my judgements in the previous paragraph prove incorrect (I have a history of Pele-esque predictions, most recently Reading for promotion), he would prove the outstanding candidate to replace Benitez.

Houllier was only granted one more season after missing out on Champions League football to Newcastle and Chelsea in 2003. And as Jamie Carragher’s best days sadly look to be behind him, coupled with Gerrard turning 30 at the end of this term’s failure-in-the-making, I wouldn’t be surprised if next year is Benitez’s last crack at the big one.

In Rafa we trust? I’m not so sure anymore.

Arsenal secured their place in the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League for an impressive seventh consecutive season thanks to goals from Samir Nasri and Denilson.

In reality it was a contest that the North Londoners rarely looked in any danger of losing and the victory meant top spot in Group H with one more game to go.

It’s a result that sees them go six points clear of Greek Champions Olympiakos after their goalless draw against AZ Alkmaar.

Both goals were scored inside the first forty-five minutes to stop Liege in their tracks and forget any hope of causing an upset. A slip by Liege defender Landry Mulemo allowed Nasri to slip in for the opening goal after 35 minutes and Denilson fired home a wicked 30 yarder at the end of the first half.

Nasri and Fabregas were outstanding in the centre orchestrating Arsenal’s play from the very beginning as Arsenal took complete control of the game.

Fabregas was picked out by Nasri after only five minutes but his effort was saved by Standard goalkeeper Sinan Bolat, while Felipe was forced to make a block as Carlos Vela closed in on goal.

Standard had been second best by some distance, but they wasted a chance to give themselves hope six minutes after the break when Axel Witsel could only turn a tame effort into the arms of Almunia from six yards after Arsenal failed to clear a free-kick.

The score could have been much higher if it was n’t for some lax play by the Gunners. None more so than when Arshavin saved from Vermaelen during a goal mouth scramble.

The hosts were almost in cruise control and Wenger gave England starlet a chance to get in on the action for the last thirty minutes coming on for the superb Nasri.

Walcott almost made it three himself, with a shot that had Bolat beaten before Cyric hit the post for the Belgians to wake the English team up.

Standard did offer some resistance themselves and twice hit the woodwork through Dieudonne Mbokani and Gohi Bi Cyriac once in each half.

The Belgian’s disappointment was compounded in the closing stages as Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez saw red for a needless altercation with Arsenal’s captain Cesc Fabregas.

The downside on the night were the injuries to Gallas and Gibbs both of whom had to leave the field of play with Arsene Wenger very concerned.

France manager Raymond Domenech insists he will not walk away from his job amid his growing unpopularity.

Despite leading the nation to the World Cup final in 2006, Domenech has often been a figure of ridicule in his homeland for below performances.

His reputation was not helped by a mediocre World Cup qualifying campaign which ended in controversy after the Thierry Henry handball affair.

Calls from France fans for Domenech to step down ahead of the finals in South Africa have been rebuffed by the manager himself, who insists he revels under pressure.

“I have never resigned, and I will never resign,” Domenech told French media outlet l’express. “The harder the pressure, the more I become motivated.

“I thrive on adversity. When everything’s calm, I get bored, I start worrying. To leave now makes no sense.

“Let me reverse the logic. Wouldn’t they think in that case ‘what a coward’, he’s cut and run. Resigning would suggest that I’ve completed my job and that I don’t give a damn about the consequences – that would give ammunition to my critics.

“People have to stop dreaming. I’m not someone who walks away. With my players we want to achieve something momentous in South Africa.

“We’ll let a little time go by, see what this and that person is saying, and then kick on again.”

After a disappointing showing at Euro 2008, in which France failed to progress from the group stages, Domenech looks to have survived another brush with the sack.

However, he was forced to reiterate his stance that he did not receive around €750,000 (£675,000) as a bonus for World Cup qualification, as reported in the French media.

He insisted: “If it really was that, I would be as happy as anything.

“But it is way over the mark. I won’t even try and contradict the information because it is their usual editorial line. It is a lie. Money is not my motivation.”

Domenech also slammed the critics of Henry after he admittedly handled the ball in the build up to William Gallas’ extra-time goal which sent France through to the world cup at the expense of the Republic of Ireland.

The manner in which they qualified for the tournament also drew heavy criticism of the national side in French media last week.

With Henry and Domenech the key figures of ridicule, Domenech has previously voiced his plans to remain in charge and has now leapt to the defence of his captain Henry.

“It made me furious that Thierry can be treated this way,” the France boss added on l’express.fr.

“I have not slept for two days and I am just starting to get over it.

“When France were given an unjustified red card against the Serbs, Serbia did not launch a campaign to denigrate our team.”

The Football Association of Ireland requested a replay of the game, which was immediately rebuffed by world governing body FIFA.

Henry has admitted he considered retiring from international football following the uproar, but Domenech does not believe he was ever likely do so.

“No, I do not think so,” he said. “But when I called, he was like all of us – surprised, stunned. I have tremendous respect for him as a man and a footballer.

“Titi (Henry) is one of the most talented players in the history of French football.

“For months now, despite his injury, he participated in all our matches at the risk of being yelled at by his club, Barcelona.

“‘Les Bleus’ is his reason for living as a footballer.”

The goal sparked mass debate over whether the game should be replayed and whether video technology could be used to determine difficult decisions.

However, Domenech admits such measures were never likely and insists the problem does not lie with the honesty of players, but with the quality of refereeing.

He added: “No, it would have been impossible (a replay). Or it should be done after every incident that goes unpunished.

“Let’s solve the problem of refereeing – that is the real debate.”

French football legends Eric Cantona and Bixente Lizarazu are the latest high-profile pair to point the finger at Domenech, but the 57-year-old remains unfazed by their criticism.

He said: “I put Cantona in the same batch as the others. He is coach of a beach soccer team and failed to qualify his team for the World Cup. He should show decency.”

A World Cup winner with the French in 1998, Lizarazu traded heated words with Domenech on live radio in their homeland, and the latter refuses to accept criticism from the inexperienced Lizarazu.

“It’s nice, the lessons of Bixente Lizarazu. It is fun, he won something and I’m happy for him, but he must not forget that he too has experienced difficult times – in 2002, for example.

“Lizarazu also claims that I refuse to talk football, tactically and technically. He is wrong. I speak, but with my players, not with him.

“Anyway, he does not ask questions, he merely gives advice.”

“Former players who act as coaches and have never coached a team leave me indifferent.”

Manchester United fullback Patrice Evra has defended France teammate Thierry Henry amid his handball controversy.

Henry admittedly handled the ball in the build up to William Gallas’ equalising goal which sent France through in their World Cup playoff with the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday night.

The goal has been the talk of European football this week, with suggestions of a replay being rebuffed by both Fifa and the French Football Federation.

Despite qualification, the French side have been heavily criticised in their national press for the manner of their progression, with Henry at the forefront of the accusations.

Left-back Evra feels the criticism of Henry is harsh, and insists the Barcelona striker should be praised for helping his team reaching South Africa.

“That is madness,” Evra told French sports newspaper L’Equipe.

“I have one question to the people doing the talking – are you really proud to be French? We started controversy over Henry, but we should raise him a statue.

“I have no problem with the foreign press destroying Henry, but doing it in France, that is impossible.

“If Titi (Henry) would have asked to cancel the goal admitting his handball to the referee and we went on to lose, the same people would have talked about his ego, they would say ‘he only thought of himself and his image’.

He added: “Frankly, if he had done that I would have told him ‘you betrayed us’.

“I came back to Manchester and the Irish players themselves told me during the first leg the referee should have given us a penalty, due to a fault on me.

“But people forget about that. In football, there are always injustices.”

Former Arsenal and France teammate Patrick Vieira has also leapt to the defence of Henry, citing the referee as the villain for not spotting the incident.

“Frankly, to put Thierry under trial is scandalous. The referee didn’t see the handball, that’s all,” Vieira said in L’Equipe.

“We can understand the Irishmen are disgusted, but it is not the first or the last time we can see refereeing mistakes in football.

He added: “Video assistance or fifth referee could be solutions.”

Amid the hype surrounding the controversy, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger preferred to highlight the performances of his former player Nicolas Anelka over the two legs.

The striker is enjoying the best spell of his career for both club and country and can expect to feature in his first World Cup finals next summer, and Wenger is not surprised by his resurgence.

Wenger told L’Equipe: “Talent always survives. Nico is now popular. What has changed the most is the fact that people look at him in a new light. He has also made concessions.

“He seems to feel good about himself. He has reached maturity, the age when players are happy.”

Wengers views were echoed by Anelka’s former Arsenal teammate Emmanuel Petit: “His antisocial image could have been heavy on him, but Nicolas has that amazing ability to never doubt.

“Manchester City, Turkey, Bolton – it was like he needed to spend time in the wilderness before joining Chelsea, a club that matches his dimension.

“That will allow him to finish bursting in his career as he makes up for lost time.”

I know what you’re thinking, ‘not another blog on Thierry Henry’s handball,’ but the reality is, even as club football returns this weekend, it’s the biggest topic in football at the minute.

I’m a traditionalist as far as football goes. I accept that players get sent off when they shouldn’t. That they get flagged offside when they shouldn’t. That goals stand when the definitely shouldn’t. I’ve never been advocate of technology to be introduced to the game and I found the recent experiment of extra officials arbitrating the penalty area absurd. Until now of course.

William Gallas’ controversial goal in extra time of the Republic of Ireland’s 1-1 draw with France, assisted by left hand of Henry, proved the difference between the sides over two legs as probably the most undeserved team to book their place in the world cup hijacked Ireland’s plane to South Africa.

Swedish referee Martin Hansson and his assistants should not have needed extra help to spot two blatant handballs in quick succession, not to mention the fact that Henry began the move in an offside position – something which has been overlooked such was the transparency of the more significant foul, but the Irish could really have used an extra pair of eyes in Paris on Wednesday night.

And so the debate reopens. Do we need technology or extra officials in football? Well, if we are ever to have an entirely just sport, then yes is the answer. But the prospect of technology brings with it a host of complications which could change the entire format of the beautiful game.

For instance, if video replays for referees were to be introduced, the clock system may have to change with it. Should a referee face a high number of big decisions in a single game, with stoppages being added at the end of the ninety, action-packed games could end up running up to 99 minutes long, and somewhere closer to 110 in Old Trafford.

That could prompt an American style stop-start system in which the clock would stop every time the ball goes out of play, and restart along with play, with games ending at 90 minutes on the dot. It is a format which would see an end to the nail-biting entertainment that is stoppage time, and let’s be honest, no-one wants to more like the Yanks.

Having already been experimented with in the Europa League this season, the prospect of using extra officials for goalmouth scraps at the highest level is much more feasible. The trial involves a team of six officials, the standard four plus an extra body behind each set of goals for clarification of those vital decisions which the referee is so often obstructed for.

The trial has brought mixed reaction from club managers after a lack of success in its early stages, but given time it may save the game from becoming riddled with corruption and going against everything the word “sport” stands for.

I’m not about to preach and say had extra officials been used in the playoffs Ireland would be going to the world cup, because that is not for definite. They surely would have spotted Henry’s Maradona-esque act and disallowed the goal, but the game may not even have reached that point as Patrice Evra’s legitimate penalty appeals in Croke Park may have been given the go-ahead.

However, nothing could have been as blatant as Henry’s double handball which has seen a very poor French side, second best for the large part of both legs, head for South Africa while the Republic must spend at least another four years in the World Cup wilderness.

Henry he had the chance to live up to his gentleman and role modal reputation by coming clean immediately after Gallas had prodded the ball into Shay Given’s net.

Instead, he smugly admitted to it at full time, in stereotypically French fashion – with an air of arrogance as though he was admirable for his admission – 20 minutes too late. Not the actions of a role model and this modern great will no doubt have gone down in many a football fan’s estimations.