Liverpool hero Johnston: Benitez looking over his shoulder at Dalglish

Liverpool hero Craig Johnston believes the addition of Kenny Dalglish to the club's staff will have unsettled Rafa Benitez.

Johnston compared the situation to the ill-fated union between Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier in the late 1990s, suggesting Dalglish’s presence as an ambassador could unwittingly be adding to Benitez’s load.

He told the Daily Star Sunday: “If Rafa spits the dummy or there’s a row between Gillett and him, they’ve brought in an insurance policy.

“Rafa will be wondering what’s going on.

“There was Houllier undermining Roy’s position as the manager and similarly now, if I’m the boss and I’ve got a Liverpool legend and ex-manager, it’s like someone’s covering their backs and I don’t like it.

“If you’re Rafa you’re thinking, ‘They’re preparing for my exit’.”