The Spaniard was also put under pressure by his team’s struggle to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League, although that was finally achieved with a 4-0 victory over Marseille in midweek.

Arch-rivals United are next up at Anfield on Sunday but ahead of that clash Queiroz has offered his support to Benitez.

“After everything Rafa has done for Liverpool he doesn’t deserve to be under this kind of pressure,” said the Portuguese.

“I’ve known him for a long time and he is a great coach and a great man.”

Queiroz felt the example of Benitez’s situation at Anfield, coupled with the number of Premier League managers who have already lost their jobs this season, suggested a change of attitude among English clubs.

“I think the bad things of Continental football are arriving in England,” he said.

“It is really strange because in the last five years there has been a definite change.

“I don’t know the exact data but there are definitely more coaches under pressure than at any other time I can remember. This is not a good thing. It is a bad thing.”

Queiroz had even more words of praise for United’s north-west rivals, particularly the club’s record signing Fernando Torres who has scored 12 goals this season since arriving from Atletico Madrid.

“I have been in England for five years and I have never seen a Liverpool side looking so strong in the league at this point of the season,” he said.

“Torres is doing really well and I am impressed with him.

“He is already going some way to making the difference for Liverpool this season.

“I think he’s a good finisher and he’s a player who gives Liverpool something completely different.

“Certainly we will have to be careful of him because he is dangerous. We are always confident in what we can do and we will not worry too much. But we do recognise his quality.”