Liverpool are facing the prospect of their worst run of results since the Bill Shankly era started 50 years ago - but under-fire boss Rafael Benitez has received backing from an Anfield legend.

Benitez is battling to overcome a horror injury list ahead of the make-or-break Champions League showdown in Lyon on Wednesday.

A loss there would mean seven defeats in eight games after Saturday's 3-1 setback at Fulham, when star striker Fernando Torres - himself struggling for fitness - was substituted at 1-1.

The Anfield club have never experienced such a run since Shankly was appointed, the 50-year anniversary of the charismatic Scot's arrival in 1959 being December 1.

Former Anfield hero David Fairclough has supported Benitez, and said: "The club is moving in a certain direction, and this season it has been totally in Benitez's hands.

"So to sack the manager, or even think of sacking the manager, is only going to throw Liverpool backwards.

"We are going to have to stick with him and hope that we turn things around."

He added: "I know some fans who were disappointed when Rafa took off Torres at Fulham, but the lad clearly wasn't fully fit.

"Liverpool have been hit by injuries and illness, and clearly had there been any more injuries or problems late on in the game, it would not have been helpful for the team plan for Wednesday night.

"But I can see Liverpool getting the result they need in Lyon. When you are talking about a dozen or more players not being available, I believe things will look a lot different come kick-off in Lyon.

"That situation will be turned around a bit, people will be fit by them, I'm sure.

"They go there knowing exactly what they have to do, and I believe Liverpool can win in Lyon. They have had situations like this before, and have produced the right results so they are more than capable of doing it again."

Benitez is facing a nightmare injury list which, apart from Torres and Steven Gerrard (both groin), sees Glen Johnson, Fabio Aurelio (both calf), Daniel Agger (back), Martin Kelly (ankle), Albert Riera (hamstring) and Andrea Dossena (groin) all struggling.

Additionally, Philipp Degen - red-carded at Fulham - was not named in the club's Champions League squad.

Liverpool also have four players - Alberto Aquilani, Martin Skrtel, David Ngog and Diego Cavalieri - suffering from a virus, although Benitez says: "It is not swine flu, we haven't got that here."

Benitez's own tenure as manager is now under close scrutiny inside and outside the club.
He is hopefully that top scorer Torres will be on the plane, but there is increasing doubt that skipper Gerrard will be.

Goalkeeper Jose Reina, who has confirmed he wants to sign a new contract, says of the worsening situation: "All of us have to keep everyone else's head up. In weak moments, strong people have to appear. I want to be one of them and support my team-mates if they need it.

"The key is to stay together and not read the critics. Belief is the word we need to use the most - belief in ourselves and our team-mates.

"We were a bit unlucky on Saturday. We didn't play as bad as at other times. It was not even close to our worst game.

"It's a tough moment but we have to stick together and try to sort things out on the pitch and in every single training session. We have pride in wearing this shirt and we have to defend it until the end.

"Any defeat hurts someone with ambition and someone who is hungry for titles. But it doesn't matter how many times you fall down - what matters is how many times you get up and keep trying to be the best.

"That's what we have to do now. We have to go back to our principles, sort out the problems we're having and go back to being the Liverpool everyone wants."

Jamie Carragher, who is hoping his own red card at Fulham will be overturned, defended Benitez's decision to substitute goalscorer Torres, saying: "Fernando has had a lot of problems lately and the longer he stays on the pitch, the more chance he has got of sustaining an injury.

"We know Fernando is not quite 100 per cent. If Fernando had got injured at the end, we would have had virtually nobody for the game in midweek but we still brought a Dutch international in Ryan Babel on. It should be enough quality."