Barnes insists Liverpool can't beat experience and backs Rafa return
By Dan Ripley
PUBLISHED: 18:56 GMT, 17 May 2012 | UPDATED: 18:56 GMT, 17 May 2012
Former Liverpool midfielder John Barnes has backed Rafael Benitez to return to the club following the sacking of Kenny Dalglish.
The Spaniard has been out of work since being sacked by Inter Milan in December 2010, just six months after leaving Anfield following a failure to reach the Champions League.
Thumbs up: Rafa Benitez could be in line for an Anfield return
But Barnes supports a return to Liverpool for the 52-year-old, who won the Champions League in 2005 as well as the FA Cup a year later, but claimed that the club's American owners must start showing more faith in their managers to achieve any long term goals.
'I think it has to be someone with a proven track record,' Barnes said.
'You could have someone as inexperienced as [Roberto] Martinez, Brendan Rodgers or Andre Villa-Boas or someone as experienced as Rafa [Benitez].
Departed: Dalglish had contract terminated
'Rafa knows the club so him coming back will be a good move and I support anyone coming into the club with a proven track record - he will improve the side.
'They have to back the next man. Because otherwise they are just going to keep getting new managers wanting to spend more money and that's a feature of modern football.
'If you want examples of what can be achieved with support in a similar situation you just need to look at Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes.
'They are two of the longest serving managers and both have been under pressure for various reasons but you can see how well Everton and Manchester United have done.
'An example of what not to do is Chelsea, okay they may win the Champions League but by changing managers their league form has shown them to be inconsistent.'
Dalglish was dismissed from his second spell at Liverpool after guiding the Reds to their joint lowest Premier League finish in eighth spot.
The Scot won the Carling Cup and reached the FA Cup final but underachieved in his first full season back after spending over £100million on new signings.
The 61-year-old's departure from the Merseyside club shocked Barnes, who believed results would have improved under the Kop legend's guidance while tipping the Reds to claim a Champions League spot next term.
Liverpool legends: Kevin Keegan (left) and John Barnes
Barnes added: 'I was shocked when I head the rumours because I expected him to start the season after showing improvements in the last month, particularly Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson – two big name signings.
'With Kenny, Liverpool would have improved next season and moved forward like they did in the last month. I would have liked to have seen him given more time but it will only be the wrong decision if Liverpool fail to improve under a new manager – they will, but they would have improved under Kenny too.
'Liverpool should be aiming for what they were this season, but they have a more realistic chance next season for a Champions League spot and that means fourth or third at best.
'Aiming for the top four suggests first, second, third of fourth. For me I don't think Liverpool can finish first or second but third or fourth is a possibility and that's what they have to aim for next year.'
England expects: Stewart Downing a worthy selection
Meanwhile the former England international defended Roy Hodgson's decision to pick Stewart Downing for Euro 2012.
The left-sided midfielder joined Liverpool from Aston Villa for £20million last summer but disappointed in his first campaign at Anfield after going a whole Premier League season without scoring or assisting.
But Barnes believes that the 27-year-old is a worthy selection and hasn't performed that poorly this season.
Barnes continued: 'Stewart Downing hasn't done as badly as people think. You look at the statistics, he created more chances than any wide player in the Premier League. Those chances weren't taken and Andy Carroll didn't play a lot with him either.
'In the last half-dozen games of the season he showed mark improvement so I don't think his inclusion is contentious. You look at Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ashley Young and they all right sided.
'From a left-sided point of view you could look at Adam Johnson but he has hardly played for Manchester City at all so from that point of view I don't think Downing is such a strange decision.'
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