...with the Wales forward forced to issue a statement denying that he has "no working relationship" with Rafael BenÍtez, the manager.
Bellamy's future at Anfield was already under serious doubt after a troubled first season at the club, with Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa planning to make offers for him in the summer, but his position came under even greater scrutiny on Saturday evening after Malcolm Allen, the former Wales forward, claimed on BBC Wales that the 27-year-old had told him before Liverpool's 2-1 defeat by Portsmouth at Fratton Park that he had little option but to look for a new club.
Allen, who is close to several members of the Wales squad, said: "I spoke to Craig before the game here on the pitch and he told me it has been a very disappointing year for him, that he hasn't got a working relationship with Rafa BenÍtez, that they hardly speak to each other at the moment and that the situation has become clear that, for the sake of his own career, he wants to play consistently, he wants to play in the first team week in, week out and he hasn't been getting those opportunities at Liverpool.
"It's going to be a sad day for Craig because he's always been a Liverpool supporter. But, for the furthering of his own career, I do feel he has got to move on. And that's the way he's feeling as well."
Allen's comments were broadcast live on BBC Wales during the match at Fratton Park, prompting the club to issue a statement on Bellamy's behalf through their website. "Rafa is the best coach I have worked with and I'm a better player for having worked with him," Bellamy's statement read.
"That I have to waste time responding to these suggestions is nonsense. If I do go on to manage at some point in the future, he [BenÍtez] is the model I will use in my career. I can't make my respect for him any clearer than that. I am even more disappointed that this has come up as we are approaching a massive game on Tuesday, the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea. The reports are complete garbage."
BenÍtez is pragmatic enough to base his conclusions about Bellamy on the player's performance, rather than on claims made in the media or even on his infamous altercation with John Arne Riise during the team's training camp in the Algarve in February. But, with only nine goals in 40 appearances in all competitions, the former Blackburn and Newcastle United forward has struggled to live up to his manager's expectations.
Although he has started the past two matches, Bellamy is thought unlikely to start against Chelsea tomorrow, when Peter Crouch is expected to be recalled alongside Dirk Kuyt.
Liverpool have confirmed that Steve Heighway will leave his post as academy director at the end of the season, with the former Anfield winger having had several differences of opinion with BenÍtez over the club's youth development strategy.
"Steve is approaching 60 and has decided the time has come to hand over the responsibility of finding the stars of tomorrow," Rick Parry, the chief executive, said. "Steve is also among that breed of former players who went on to give a lifetime's service to the club. Everyone connected with the club will wish him well."
Parry is eager to find Heighway a role that will allow him to continue to work with the club's youngsters in some capacity, but BenÍtez is keen to have greater influence over the academy, having informed the club's new owners, George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks, that this is an area in which Liverpool need to make serious improvements, despite Heighway's youngsters having won the FA Youth Cup final last week, beating Manchester United for the second successive season.