Rafael BenÍtez has lost what little support he may have had from George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks, Liverpool’s American owners, and is in grave danger of losing his job sooner rather than later, with their working relationship seemingly beyond repair.

Gillett and Hicks issued a statement last night to deny reports that they intend to sack BenÍtez, but while they insisted that nothing had changed since a previous statement, in which Hicks told the manager to “quit talking about new players”, there was no attempt to back the Spaniard.

Sources in the Anfield hierarchy believe there is no way that BenÍtez can survive this fallout in the long term, with growing fears that he could be dismissed even before a planned meeting with Gillett and Hicks next month.

In their joint statement, the owners said: “Despite speculation in the newspapers, there is nothing new to say. We had a good win on Saturday and have got some very important games coming up. Both of us, together with chief executive Rick Parry, plan to meet with Rafa when we come over mid-December to make decisions on the team’s requirements at that time.”

BenÍtez could yet be given the opportunity to see out the season, particularly if there is agreement between all parties on the amount of money needed to strengthen the squad in the January transfer window, but the meeting in mid-December has the makings of an explosive showdown. The immediate priority for BenÍtez is to “focus on coaching and training the team” – the phrase first uttered by Hicks and subsequently adopted as a sarcastic mantra by the manager – but preparations for the must-win Champions League match at home to FC Porto on Wednesday are being overshadowed by the political turmoil at the club.

It remains to be seen whether BenÍtez will dare to discuss the subject at tomorrow’s prematch press conference, but, already on the thinnest of ice, he did himself no favours with his comments after the 3-0 win away to Newcastle United on Saturday. By inferring that Gillett and Hicks do not understand “what the passion of football means and what the transfer market in Europe means”, he was perceived to have insulted the Americans. Even his decision to wear a tracksuit, rather than his usual suit, at St James’ Park has been widely interpreted within the club as a sarcastic response to the demand that he focus on coaching and training.

Gillett and Hicks are understood to have sought advice about a possible successor to BenÍtez, with José Mourinho, the former Chelsea head coach, having almost inevitably cropped up. Quite whether they would be brave enough to appoint another difficult character, though, and one whose relationship with Liverpool’s supporters is fraught, remains to be seen.