THOUSANDS of Liverpool fans thronged the streets ahead of their team’s impressive Champions League win over FC Porto to voice their support for manager Rafael Benitez.
Amid chants of “Rafa is a Scouser” and “Rafa’s going nowhere”, the short march before kick-off was organised to show solidarity for the popular manager who is currently in dispute with the club’s new owners, leading to speculation he could be forced out.
Professionally-made banners and rudimentary homemade signs illustrated the strong sense of feeling towards the Spaniard.
“Rafa is God’s gift 2 Liverpool”, read one, while another likened a portrait of Benitez to Che Guevara.
The “Rafatollah” – a large framed picture of Benitez which supporters treat with reverence – also appeared.
