Jose casts a huge shadow over Rafa

When he left  Stamford Bridge in September, Mourinho insisted his next post would not be in England.

But that was before Benitez’s rotation policy cost Liverpool valuable ground in the Premier League, and left their Champions League hopes on the brink and the fans up in arms.

The Sunday Express has learned from sources in Portugal close to Mourinho that he has added the Anfield giants to his short list of possible clubs to manage next.

Our source confirmed: “There’s no question Liverpool is a club Jose would like to manage.”

Under his extremely generous severance terms with Chelsea, Mourinho cannot work in England until June.

But he believes that taking over from Benitez could be the most attractive option open to him because:

Liverpool have the financial power to compete with Europe’s elite.

The Kop are so fed up with the club’s title drought that they would welcome the Special One.

lIt would make Roman Abramovich even more jealous of Liverpool.

Only last week Mourinho emphasised his determination to hold out for one of Europe’s top jobs by rejecting Valencia, widely regarded as Spain’s third-largest club.

But unless Real Madrid or Barcelona come calling next summer, which is unlikely, his options will be limited to either of Italy’s Milan clubs – or Liverpool. News of Mourinho waiting in the wings is sure to rattle Kop boss Benitez, who has an intense dislike of the ex-Porto coach and is engulfed in a full-blown crisis on Merseyside.

Failure to beat Besiktas at home on Tuesday will end Liverpool’s Champions League interest – and further undermine the Spaniard’s standing at the club.

And unless he was to deliver the Premier League – a tough proposition with Arsenal and Manchester United both in great form – Benitez could well pay the price for blowing £50million last summer and leave the door open for Mourinho.