It’s all well and good when the media and supporters criticise the managerial failings at Liverpool but the moment players start to show signs of disapproval then you know there are worrying times ahead.

Nobody will be too concerned at Albert Riera’s comments, in which he described the club as a ‘sinking ship’, because he is the type of average fringe player boss Rafael Benitez has squandered so much money on during his time at Anfield. But when players like Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard express their frustration in the way they did at Old Trafford, then you know the end is in sight for the manager.

Gerrard didn’t want to know while Fernando Torres, despite a superb header to open the scoring in the 2-1 defeat, was petulant throughout. That is their way of telling the manager they are disillusioned and fed up with the direction they are going in.

It’s not really for them to decide when there should be a change of manager. But these players have been stalwarts for the club and kept them unexpectedly in the hunt for the title last season.

Instead of building on last year’s admirable runners-up spot however, they continue to be held back with Benitez’s poor signings and bizarre team selections. It was bound to have an affect sooner or later on two players who should be aiming for more than fourth place.

In fact it could easily get worse than that. On this form, and with the sustained challenge of Tottenham and Manchester City, the Reds will be fortunate to finish in the top six which would have been unthinkable at the start of the season.

It was inevitable Xabi Alonso’s departure last summer would hamper Liverpool’s midfield but the absence of one player shouldn’t spark such an alarming deterioration of the team. This is largely the same squad that crushed Manchester United 4-1 and ran them so close for the title only a year ago.

The squad has lost faith in the manager’s methods and if the current trend continues they run the serious risk of losing their best players.

The only reason why the club have persisted with Benitez for so long is because they foolishly allowed him to write his own contract 12 months ago and the cost of sacking him would hit the club’s finances hard.

But the long-term damage to a club full of heritage and tradition will be even more costly if they don’t act decisively at the end of the season.