Liverpool are enduring their worst season for years. Seventh in the Premier League and out of the Champions League already, a trip to Everton this weekend is the last thing they need.

Benitez has been hugely popular at Anfield - no-one will ever forget the famous 2005 victory over AC Milan - but defeat at Goodison on Sunday could be the last straw for the Reds faithful.

The club's chief executive Christian Purslow insists the Spaniard's job is "under no threat" but, just four months after signing a five-year contract, should Benitez be given the boot?

Yes

Benitez has been in charge since 2004 but Liverpool had never mounted a serious title challenge until last season. And then, when they finally did look capable of toppling United, the Spaniard had his infamous 'fact' rant that undeniably played a part in their demise - the Reds drew their next four games.

Still, Liverpool finished with an impressive 86 points and hopes were high on Merseyside that they could finally claim a 19th title.

However, Xabi Alonso had been made to feel so unwanted by Benitez 12 months previously that he forced a move to Real Madrid. Man-management does not seem to be Benitez's strongest point but while the mis-treatment of Alonso was a big mistake, spending £20million odd on the injury-prone Alberto Aquilani was arguably an even bigger one.

The 25-year-old has so far managed just 22 minutes of action and that has led to regular starts for the Brazilian Lucas, who, whilst not as bad as some make out, will not rate as one of Benitez's greatest buys.

And it is his record in the transfer market that could well force the club's American owners to look at his position. There's been the odd success - Alonso, Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina to name three of a small handful - but those successes cannot mask the many failures. Ryan Babel, Andriy Voronin and Andrea Dossena are three of the many, many examples of Benitez's bad buys.

Another recurring problem with his transfer policy is that he has failed, at times almost stubbornly, to strengthen in positions the side really needed strengthening in.

There's been a consistent problem at full-back that he's failed to address - bear in mind he let go Steve Finnan and Stephen Warnock - and he's had a similar problem on the wing. Then there is the inexcusable failure to sign players capable of filling in for Torres and Steven Gerrard.

Liverpool's reliance on those sums up how poorly Benitez has done in the transfer market - their first XI is as strong as anyone's but they simply do not have the strength in depth of the other top sides.

A Champions League win in his first season earned Benitez time and patience but ultimately he has failed ever since. He should be sacked now before it is too late.

No

Okay, so Liverpool are having a torrid time of it just lately, but how much of it is Benitez's fault? He led the Reds to their highest ever points total in the Premier League last season and surely deserved better backing from the club's owners in the summer.

Unfortunately he was under instructions to 'sell to buy' and the fact he was left with just £2million to sign a defender, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, sums up the tight restrictions he was working under.

Glen Johnson cost money but the only other summer arrival was Aquilani, whose transfer was funded by the Alonso sale. Benitez may have been given money to spend in the past, but he was certainly not backed properly in the summer just gone.

It also cannot be argued that Liverpool have endured horrendous luck with injuries. They may be reliant on Torres and Gerrard but to lose them at the same time is cruel, and what side wouldn't suffer without their two best players?

And it isn't just those two - Johnson, Albert Reira, Yossi Benayoun, Fabio Aurelio, Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel have all spent time on the sidelines and the Reds' injury list was in double figures at one stage. Benitez can hardly be blamed for luck like that.

Also, why does the manager always take the blame when something goes wrong? Perhaps it is the players that should be held culpable. Jamie Carragher has had a nightmare season so far, Javier Mascherano looks like his plane to Barcelona is already booked, and Reina hasn't been up to his usual standards. They are not alone either but Benitez has had to rely on the under performers in light of all the injury problems.

Things haven't gone well this season but Benitez won Liverpool the Champions League, taken them back to the final since, and then steered their long-overdue title challenge last season. He deserves time to turn things around.

What do you think

Is Benitez to blame for the problems at Liverpool or has he just suffered bad luck? Or is it the club's owners or the players that really to blame? Use the Your Say pages and story comment facility below to give us your thoughts.