Terry Venables has said that Rafael Benitez faces the sack if Liverpool lose to bitter rivals Manchester United at Anfield.

The Reds have lost four consecutive games, the first time it's happened since 1987, and are under immense pressure to win to dig themselves out of their current predicament.

Premier League defeats to Tottenham, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Sunderland have deflated the domestic ambitions of the Merseyside giants, while losses to Fiorentina and Lyon in the Champions League have dented Rafa Benitez's plans of cruising into the knockout stage.

"It would be extremely difficult for him to stay as manager if his team fail to get a result against Manchester United," Venables wrote in his column for the Sun.

"The Anfield clash is a game Liverpool and, in particular, Benitez simply cannot afford to lose.

"If Liverpool lose again tomorrow, then they will not only wave goodbye to their faint hope of winning their first top-flight title for 20 years, they may also wave goodbye to their manager."

While there are indications that Liverpool can't afford to just sack the Spaniard, Venables is adamant that poor results may force Tom Hicks and George Gillett to go into damage control.

"Ironically, the chaos upstairs may just be the thing that keeps Benitez in a job as the Americans may not want to pay the reported £20m it will take to get rid of Rafa," he added.

"Another defeat tomorrow, though, and they might not be able to afford to keep him."