Sunday, June 06, 2010

Kop Must Flog Unhappy Stars

John Barnes reckons star duo Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres should follow Rafa Benitez out of Liverpool if they are not happy.

The Merseyside giants fear an exodus of top players after boss Benitez was sacked on Thursday.

And Anfield legend Barnes says anyone who wants to go should be allowed to - even if it means losing one of the Kop idols.

Barnes said: "Liverpool don't want Gerrard and Torres to go - but if they don't want to be there, let them move on.

"The fans would have to understand that and still get behind the club.

"Any player who doesn't want to be at Liverpool should go... no matter who they are.

"Look at this history of the club, Kevin Keegan went and people were worried but they got stronger. Kenny Dalglish was a legend but he retired and left and they've gone on and won trophies since then.

"I think there has been too much focus on Gerrard and Torres. They are important players but that affected a lot of the others in the team.

"The more we focus on them, the more we believe we can't compete without them."

Barnes, 46, was talking at an event organised by Coca-Cola and Special Olympics Great Britain to announce six flag-bearers for England's World Cup clash with Algeria on Friday week.

And the former winger who made 407 appearances in a 10-year stint at Liverpool from 1987, fears owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett may have blundered by allowing Benitez to go with the squad in such poor shape.

He said: "I'd like to have seen Rafa stay. If it's true there's no money to spend then whoever comes in will have to work with this set of players.

"If Rafa had stayed I'm sure Liverpool would have finished better than seventh next season.

"But not even Jose Mourinho could win the league with this group of players.

"If there was money to spend you could think it's time for a new start. But if there isn't I can't see the point in changing the manager.

"The assumption is there is no money to spend so there will be no world-class players coming in. So we have to get on with it."

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