Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso is backing Rafa Benitez to get it right at Liverpool. Xabi didn't see eye-to-eye with Benitez at Anfield last season, but insists he's the right man in charge.

"It's not the Liverpool way to sack a manager after a few bad results early in the season," Alonso told The Times. "He is the right man for the club. It wouldn't be a good decision to change the manager. He's a great manager."

"I still have great respect for him. I'm very grateful to him for the five great years I had at Liverpool.

"Of course the situation isn't the best right now, but he knows how to turn it around.

Alonso added: "It's a difficult situation.

"They have had injuries, they've had some bizarre moments like the one at Sunderland [when Darren Bent's winning goal bounced in off a stray beach ball].

"Liverpool will always be in my mind. I keep in contact with my former team-mates, I look for their results and, whenever I can, I watch their games on TV."