RAFAEL Benitez will mount his own inquest into Liverpool’s likely title failure.

The Reds face a home league game against Sunderland tonight knowing they are seven points behind leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand after Liverpool’s defeat at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

The title race is all but over, with Liverpool having won only one of their last seven league games.

Now the recriminations will start, and boss Benitez makes it plain his own inquest will be far-reaching.

Benitez accepts that confidence must be raised this week, beginning with a good performance against Sunderland to send the side into next Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 second-leg clash at home to Real Madrid in the right frame of mind.

If Liverpool go out of Europe – they hold a 1-0 lead from last week’s first-leg victory at the Bernabeu – their season will be effectively over.

They face a battle to finish in the top two of the league and automatically qualify for the Champions League, with Chelsea in second on goal difference and Aston Villa breathing down their necks.

Benitez said: “The immediate future is playing Sunderland, trying to get three points and then waiting to see what happens with Manchester United.”