The Dutchman verbally attacks Rafael Benitez and Anfield team-mates ahead of crunch clash with Debrecen

As if Liverpool’s manager didn’t have enough problems already, he’s now being slated in the press by a player that has never really found their feet at Liverpool. Ryan Babel arrived at Anfield a little over two seasons ago and cost the club £11.5 million, a price tag that the winger has had problems justifying ever since.

Babel has been limited to just 21 league starts for the Reds and, although he’s shown moments of brilliance (such as the marvellous long range effort in Lyon earlier this month), the 22-year-old has been massively inconsistent. It now appears that he wants to leave the club ASAP, with the player claiming that talking to Rafael Benitez about his situation is no use, with the Spaniard not prepared to play him more nor sell him.

The winger has also spoken of factions within the Liverpool team, most notably with the way that the Spanish-speaking players and Dirk Kuyt happen to be in a clique. It’s surely nothing new that certain players get on well together, although Babel is clearly someone who has not been feeling the love at Anfield and will almost certainly be regarded as a failure by the supporters when he does move on. Has Rafael Benitez simply not got the best out of him, or is he not good enough to play for the team?

Liverpool are 10/11 (bet365) to finish in the top four of the Premier League.