Former Liverpool midfielder John Barnes believes Rafael Benitez was right to turn down a new contract but hopes it will not affect the players' title challenge.
Barnes, who made more than 400 appearances for the club, is not concerned at the recent dip in form - which saw Liverpool drop two more points against arch-rivals Everton on Monday night.
Benitez's men blew the chance to regain their position at the top of the table and the power struggle between the Spaniard and the board appears to be filtering down to the players.
But Barnes is convinced that Benitez will keep the players' minds focused on events on the field and says he should have the same power Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson enjoy at Arsenal and Manchester United.
Barnes, a pundit for footballpools.com, said: "I don't know Rafa that well but he's 100% right in demanding full control over who he buys or sells for the club. He needs full control over how he spends any transfer funds as he's the one that lives or dies by those decisions.
"From his statements, he wants the same power that the likes of Wenger and Sir Alex possess and that's perfectly correct. The manager would not allow his players to be sidetracked by off-field disputes and that is how it should be."
Despite Liverpool's failure to beat Stoke and Everton in their last two league games, Barnes is expecting his former club to challenge Manchester United right to the wire.
He added: "Manchester United may have more experience in terms of winning the title but that does not necessarily mean they hold the advantage as Chelsea had not won the title for far longer than Liverpool and it did not affect them."
Barnes, who made more than 400 appearances for the club, is not concerned at the recent dip in form - which saw Liverpool drop two more points against arch-rivals Everton on Monday night.
Benitez's men blew the chance to regain their position at the top of the table and the power struggle between the Spaniard and the board appears to be filtering down to the players.
But Barnes is convinced that Benitez will keep the players' minds focused on events on the field and says he should have the same power Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson enjoy at Arsenal and Manchester United.
Barnes, a pundit for footballpools.com, said: "I don't know Rafa that well but he's 100% right in demanding full control over who he buys or sells for the club. He needs full control over how he spends any transfer funds as he's the one that lives or dies by those decisions.
"From his statements, he wants the same power that the likes of Wenger and Sir Alex possess and that's perfectly correct. The manager would not allow his players to be sidetracked by off-field disputes and that is how it should be."
Despite Liverpool's failure to beat Stoke and Everton in their last two league games, Barnes is expecting his former club to challenge Manchester United right to the wire.
He added: "Manchester United may have more experience in terms of winning the title but that does not necessarily mean they hold the advantage as Chelsea had not won the title for far longer than Liverpool and it did not affect them."
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