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To say the least, Rafael Benitez was a huge letdown in the defeat to Reading. Fortunately, Arsenal’s inept performance against Middlesbrough (boy, was that a mighty fall for the juggernaut), has given him space to maneuver.

Bill Shankly, arguably Liverpool’s most successful manager, will have turned in his grave if he knew his beloved Reds had handed three points on a silver platter to Reading. It is not a travesty to lose if the team has gone down fighting, but at 2-1, with every chance of pegging the marauding Reading players back in their place, Liverpool raised the white flag…

Where is the never-say-die passion which Shankly indoctrinated in his team? Symbolized succinctly in his quotes for generations of Scousers to follow: “Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it’s much more important than that.” If you have a healthy dose of Shankly’s fervor, it will mean fighting for all the available points. Obviously, Benitez has other priorities. He is quite comfortable with losing a match and obliterating an unbeaten run in the process.

Benitez’s tactical decisions will have baffled, if not, infuriated most of his ardent supporters. For a start, what is Peter Crouch doing as a left-sided winger while the out-of-form Momo Sissoko features prominently in the team? Crouch is not Thierry Henry with trickery, pace and passing that makes such a switch seamless; by placing Crouch away from the thick of action, it limits the attacking options. December, the make or break period, is not the time to tinker with formations and discover hidden qualities in your players.

The next frustration comes from the substitution of Fernando Torres at 2-1 down and then withdrawing Steven Gerrard when the score is 3-1. This smacks of a defeatist attitude. Benitez will argue that he prefers to keep his players fresh for the more prestigious Champions League fixture against Marseille. That approach is flawed, most successful managers will agree that it is better to take it one game at a time, no point thinking about the tactics or the players for the next match when the battle to conquer the opponent is still raging.

Granted that is a do-or-die match on Tuesday, where the Reds have to win to advance to the knock-out stage, failure to do so will see Benitez applying for the England job (yucks!) but it is highly questionable if a shot at Champions League glory is worth the three points lost. Placing all his chips in the Champions League, Desperado Benitez is going for broke.

Take a brief look at Marseille. They have been unbeaten since October and are peaking at the right time. Though their capabilities have yet to be reflected in the French League, Liverpool must not underestimate the immense talents in this team. Having tasted victory in a 1-0 win at Anfield in October - a precedent for a French team at the expense of the five-times European champions, Marseille will be eager to draw blood for the second round.

Marseille also enjoys a solid home support which can be the tipping point in a closely fought match. They are one of the best-supported club in France and their fanatical fans know how to generate an intimidating atmosphere in the Stade Velodrome. Liverpool, can expect a hostile reception from them since their own club’s survival in the Champions League is also on the line.

However, Benitez insisted that his squad will not be daunted by another tight-rope performance in a nerve-wracking environment. He has maintained a distinctly upbeat tone in the build-up to the match, reminding everybody that his players are no strangers to high-pressure encounters.

“It is an important game but the players have experience of those,” Benitez said. “Since I have been here we have been in seven finals. We have won four so we have enough experience and quality in the squad to win.”

Both Marseille and Liverpool have seven points, one behind group leaders Porto, but a draw could be enough for the French side to qualify after they won the first encounter between the two at Anfield. The odds have since reversed - Liverpool are the hot favorites to exact revenge and force their way into the knock-out phase, despite their 3-1 defeat against Reading.

I believe Benitez realized that the meeting with the American owners will involve some harsh truths about the transfer money as well as his own fate. He needs to show credible results but at the same time, he has not considered what if.. the Reds LOST to Marseille?

The exit from the Champions League will set them back by millions of dollars. A Uefa Cup place is scant consolation. They will then return back to the league dusting off their despondence but looking at seven points behind league leader Arsenal and entering into a crunch match with Manchester United with back-to-back defeats. If Liverpool lost three in a row, it will be interesting to see if the number of fans who previously rallied in his support remains the same.

Liverpool must take the competition this season seriously, a fourth place finish is by no means guaranteed. If being kicked out of this year’s Champions League is bad enough, how about failing to achieve fourth spot and missing out on next year’s party too? The three points lost last week will come back to haunt them.

Based on Liverpool’s track record, I believe they possess the slight edge and will eventually clear the hurdle against Marseille to proceed to the elimination round of the Champions League. Then, over the weekend, they may again force a strong result (draw or win) against Manchester United. But they will write off their own chances again with poor results against Portsmouth and Derby.

Such is the team under Benitez. Rising to the occasion for big matches but losing their way against small teams. Pity the fans, especially those whose hearts are not used to such excitement.

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