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.
