ARMS folded, heads bowed and gazes fixed firmly at the floor, never can a group of players have appeared more uncomfortable when embarking on a lap of honour than at Anfield yesterday.

Shuffling resignedly around the pitch perimeter, Liverpool's squad sheepishly responded to the half-hearted applause from those supporters that opted to stay behind after the final whistle.

As a symbol of a hugely under-whelming, disappointing and tortuous season, it could not have been any more appropriate.

And having seen Liverpool end their Anfield campaign the way they began it with a morale-sapping defeat, the fans that trudged home were left to ponder an uncertain future for Rafael Benitez and his players.

The Spaniard's post-match refusal to dismiss speculation of an imminent departure once again fanned the flames that his tenure as manager is drawing to a close

If this does prove his home swansong, it was a pretty ignominious one. Five years ago today, Chelsea provided the opposition for Benitez's greatest-ever occasion at Anfield as the Londoners were swept aside on a wave of emotion in that famous Champions League semi-final.

By contrast, yesterday was arguably his worst, the visitors underlining how far Liverpool have fallen since thrillingly challenging for the title just 12 months ago.

The chants of “we're going to win the league” emanating from the away end would not have overly irked a home support that could at least clutch some sort of silver lining given Chelsea's win means Manchester United are unlikely to surpass Liverpool's record of 18 titles. For now, anyway.

More pointed, though, were the strains of “you're ancient history”, a dagger in the heart of every Liverpool fan who fears that, unless there are radical changes both on and off the field this summer, such taunts could well become fact.

No wonder Benitez has clearly had enough of the inertia, false promises and apathy of co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks. While hardly blameless for a season of underachievement, the Spaniard hasn't been helped by the unrealistic balance between resource and expectation.

And Benitez won't be the only one considering his future at Anfield. The biggest cheer during the lap of honour was reserved for when Fernando Torres, recovering from the knee operation that ended his season a fortnight earlier, wandered on to the field to join his team-mates.

How Liverpool have missed Torres. And how their fans will pray to see the striker in a Liverpool shirt again, the club bracing themselves for a transfer window in which Torres, along with prize assets Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard, will have their loyalty tempted by the lure of riches and silverware elsewhere.

But who could blame them for going? The longer the uncertainty over investment and the sale of the club continues, the more likely it is players will move on in search of stability and a realistic chance of major honours.

They deserve better. Benitez deserves better. And the supporters deserve better.

Of course, not every exit this summer will be a great loss. This Liverpool squad, while sorely lacking strength in depth, has simply not been good enough in a season in which teams as average as Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Fulham have all reached major finals.