Former Liverpool midfielder Ronnie Whelan believes Rafael Benitez's days as manager of the club are numbered. The ex-Republic of Ireland international, who has managerial experience in both England and Greece, has criticised Benitez for the way he has handled his team in recent times as he chases European glory.

Whelan thinks that Benitez is obsessed with winning the Champions League so it looks good on his resume and says Liverpool's Premier League form has suffered as a consequence.

"It's all gone wrong with the manager," said Whelan on RTE's Premier Soccer Saturday. "He's shown exactly where his priorities lie.

"He wants to win the European Cup. He wants to be the man who wins the European Cup so he can get a job anywhere in Europe.

"I think after winning the European Cup with Liverpool he will get a job in Europe anyway but, for me, now, his days have got to be numbered at Liverpool.

"He showed me that he wants to win the Champions League and that's all he cares about - because of the team he picked.

"He's taken players off who are the only players who are going to give you a chance of winning the game. And he drags them all off because he's got a game on Wednesday.

"He's putting all his eggs in one basket. If he loses in Lyon, he probably won't qualify for the Champions League knockout stages. So, he's out of the Champions League, he's not going to win the Premier League anyway - so he's messed up completely."