The former Anfield defender believes the breakdown in trust between the Liverpool manager and chief executive Rick Parry would make it difficult for Benitez to land the players he wants in the summer transfer market.

It was revealed in reports this week that Parry had a hand in talks with Jurgen Klinsmann last November, along with warring co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Asked if Benitez would be there next season, Lawrenson said: "If they don't sort the mess out soon I'd have to think he would not be, regardless of whether they win the Champions League.

"The problems off the pitch could give him an excuse to leave. If they win the Champions League there would be no shortage of takers and he probably thinks 'why should I turn up and flog my guts out for this lot when I don't know what is going to happen next week?'

"He must come in every day and wonder what he is going to read about that he didn't know."

It is the nitty-gritty of buying reinforcements for a side currently fourth in the Premier League, however, which could force the hand of the former Valencia coach.

Lawrenson said: "His problem is what about the players he fancies for next year. Who says yes you can buy and who says no you can't? It is very difficult.

"The manager and the chief executive are so important. Nowadays the manager goes to the chief executive and says 'See if you can get me 'X'' and the chief executive sorts it out.

"When the owners are 4,000 miles away you are relying on the chief executive to give you every bit of information that relates to you."

Lawrenson, who played 241 times for Liverpool in the 1980s, including the FA Cup final against Everton in 1986, admits he has been saddened by the persistent squabbling between Hicks and Gillett and believes the club would be better served by the Dubai consortium DIC who are eager to take over.

He said: "(Bob Shankly) Shanks, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan must be turning in their graves when you consider what they did for the football club.

"It's an everyday farce and credit goes to the manager and the players. "Apart from Manchester United in the last two to three months the results have been excellent regardless of what has been happening off the pitch.

"The sooner someone can get Hicks and Gillett round the table and sort out who pays who off and who retains the majority in the football club and lets the Dubai people in the better."