The moment that Steven Gerrard's penalty ripped the back of the net against Arsenal last week, the dynamic of power at Anfield was changed forever.
That goal didn't just guarantee Liverpool a place in the Champions League semi-final for the third time in four years. It put manager Rafael Benitez in a position to finally dictate his terms at the club.
His response was immediate and unyielding. The Spaniard knew that scintillating performance and result in Europe's premier competition would have placed his name on the shortlist of just about every top club across the continent.
He is a wanted man for his heroics in turning Liverpool into the Champions League's best performers. Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC and Inter Milan and Juventus will all look closely at his CV in the summer when they consider likely managerial vacancies.
That has left the Anfield boss in a no-lose situation.
For the past year he has been involved in a stand-off with chief executive Rick Parry over ultimate control of all football matters, a feud that has become increasingly bitter.
Benitez wanted Parry out a year ago and that almost cost him his own job. The Spaniard believes his chief executive is ponderous and uncommunicative when it comes to the transfer market - where he insists decisive action is required. But in saying so - famously after the Champions League final last May - he upset owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett who, new to the club, were very much in thrall to Parry's Premiership pedigree at that time.
By repeating the accusations early this campaign, Benitez was almost sacked with the Americans and Parry going as far as to meet with Jurgen Klinsmann to discuss the possibility of him taking over.
That goal didn't just guarantee Liverpool a place in the Champions League semi-final for the third time in four years. It put manager Rafael Benitez in a position to finally dictate his terms at the club.
His response was immediate and unyielding. The Spaniard knew that scintillating performance and result in Europe's premier competition would have placed his name on the shortlist of just about every top club across the continent.
He is a wanted man for his heroics in turning Liverpool into the Champions League's best performers. Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC and Inter Milan and Juventus will all look closely at his CV in the summer when they consider likely managerial vacancies.
That has left the Anfield boss in a no-lose situation.
For the past year he has been involved in a stand-off with chief executive Rick Parry over ultimate control of all football matters, a feud that has become increasingly bitter.
Benitez wanted Parry out a year ago and that almost cost him his own job. The Spaniard believes his chief executive is ponderous and uncommunicative when it comes to the transfer market - where he insists decisive action is required. But in saying so - famously after the Champions League final last May - he upset owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett who, new to the club, were very much in thrall to Parry's Premiership pedigree at that time.
By repeating the accusations early this campaign, Benitez was almost sacked with the Americans and Parry going as far as to meet with Jurgen Klinsmann to discuss the possibility of him taking over.
Benitez survived that crisis by backing down. But he was never deflected from his determination to take control of transfer policy at the club - and with it win his power battle with Parry.
Now, by getting to the semi-final again, and after cementing an unlikely relationship with Hicks, he has seen his chance to end the dispute in his favour.
His remarks on Sunday seemed straightforward enough. He believes that Parry was dishonest in keeping his presence at one meeting with Klinsmann secret. Further, he believes that their relationship is compromised by that fact.
But the extension of his logic is inevitable. Because Parry was chasing a new manager when he should have been working on transfers for Benitez, the Spaniard will insist the two of them can no longer work together in any trust.
So Benitez will arrive at a situation this summer where he will demand not only that he gets total control of transfers, but also that he gets the money to buy who he wants as quickly as he wants. And in that scenario, Parry must depart.
If Benitez doesn't get what he wants then he will simply walk out the door because like most Liverpool fans he is unhappy with the continuing political strife at the club... even if he is partly to blame for that.
The Spanish manager knows that Hicks backs him implicitly now because the two men communicate almost every day. He knows he can count on the Texan to sack Parry should the opportunity arise... and provide a sizeable transfer budget.
And he will test George Gillett's commitment to him and the fans by demanding the co-owner follow suit. Because Benitez has a real trump card up his sleeve - the supporters.
They do not want to see their manager go and would gladly sacrifice Parry to ensure that it doesn't happen.
If Gillett stands in the way of that and instead forces Benitez out, then he will become reviled and Hicks will be viewed more sympathetically. In defence of Hicks, he has backed Benitez since their brief fall out in November and it is thought that his letter demanding Parry resign last week was because he realised the chief executive would have to be sacrificed if he is to keep his manager in the summer.
So Benitez wins all ways because if he doesn't get what he wants, then he will simply walk into a job with an equally big club that will offer better wages and a bigger transfer budget. As for Liverpool, Parry is now in a vulnerable position.
Even if DIC's attempted takeover ever comes off, then the new owners will still be forced to support a massively popular manager ahead of a backroom man with a chequered record.
Not that it may come to that at all. By backing the Spanish coach so vigorously, Hicks will find himself a more popular on Merseyside than the reviled figure he currently cuts with the fans, which will increase the pressure on Gillett to sell.
LIVERPOOL'S FUTURE: WHAT IF..
Hicks wins control, by buying out George Gillett. Benitez will stay at the club, and Rick Parry will be sacked. Benitez will be offered the support of the owner, and given the power and funds he wants to truly compete in the transfer market.
George Gillett wins control with Dubai's DIC. Gillett has already backed Parry, so Benitez would be more inclined to leave. Should DIC win sole control, Benitez could be vulnerable. But they might be forced to change their position given Rafa's popularity with the fans.
Gillett And Hicks both refuse to concede, forcing the saga to continue, with both owners holding 50 per cent of the club, preventing the other from making any big decisions. Parry would stay, but Benitez would head off into the arms of the ranks of top European clubs sure to be interested in his services.
Rafa Benitez demands showdown with George Gillett
Rafa Benitez will demand to meet Liverpool co-owner George Gillett next week in an attempt to resolve his future.
The American is due to fly into Merseyside for the Champions League semi-final showdown with Chelsea, and the manager wants to know exactly where Gillett now stands.
Benitez wants guarantees, which include an end to the squabbling at Anfield, total control of all football matters and a healthy summer transfer budget.
If they are not met, then he will listen to offers from other clubs.
The Spanish coach will also make clear that he can no longer work with chief executive Rick Parry, after the relationship between the pair has disintegrated over the last year.
Already, co-owner Tom Hicks has sent a letter asking for Parry to resign, and the Texan explained over the weekend that he will now make a formal boardroom request for Gillett to support him.
The American is due to fly into Merseyside for the Champions League semi-final showdown with Chelsea, and the manager wants to know exactly where Gillett now stands.
Benitez wants guarantees, which include an end to the squabbling at Anfield, total control of all football matters and a healthy summer transfer budget.
If they are not met, then he will listen to offers from other clubs.
The Spanish coach will also make clear that he can no longer work with chief executive Rick Parry, after the relationship between the pair has disintegrated over the last year.
Already, co-owner Tom Hicks has sent a letter asking for Parry to resign, and the Texan explained over the weekend that he will now make a formal boardroom request for Gillett to support him.
Speaking at the weekend, Hicks said: "I will request George's approval to terminate Rick's contract. If he chooses not to, the record will be clear."
So far, Gillett has refused to back Hicks, and insisted last Friday that "Rick Parry has my complete support".
But Benitez will test that support to the full, when he makes clear to Gillett that if his demands are not met, then he will have little option but to look elsewhere at the end of the season. The Liverpool boss knows that Hicks backs him completely, with the pair communicating almost daily for the past three months.
But Gillett's support is crucial, because both Americans have an equal 50 per cent holding in the club, and can block the moves of each other. Parry cannot be sacked unless both men agree.
If Gillett sides with Parry though, he will effectively force Benitez out, and that will anger the fans, who are desperate for the Spaniard to stay at Anfield. It is a difficult situation for Gillett, who has shown little support for Benitez since he brokered a meeting with his friend Jurgen Klinsmann to discuss the possibility of becoming the new boss at Anfield.Benitez is hoping that his unyielding stance will force the Colorado-based businessman to finally come out of hiding and decide exactly where he stands on the future of Liverpool.
The Spaniard believes that with the support of both men, he can take Liverpool forward, after already steering them to their third Champions League semi-final in four years.
He knows he has the support of Hicks, but if Gillett continues to oppose him then he will listen to likely offers from the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and AC Milan.
Hicks will call a board meeting within the next few days, where he will ask for a formal vote on the future of Parry, and ask Gillett to back the manager.
If that request is denied, then Benitez is almost certain to leave in the summer.
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