John Barnes backs Rafa Benitez for Liverpool return

Liverpool legend John Barnes has backed former boss Rafa Benitez to take over at Anfield next season.

Benitez, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in his first season in charge, has been out of work following a brief stint with Inter Milan in 2010. However, Barnes insists that Benitez's return would be a good move.

"I think it has to be someone with a proven track record," he told the Daily Mail.

"You could have someone as inexperienced as [Roberto] Martinez, Brendan Rodgers or Andre Villa-Boas, or someone as experienced as Rafa [Benitez].

"Rafa knows the club so him coming back [would] be a good move."

The Spaniard left Merseyside by mutual consent at the end of the 2009-10 season.