Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann says Rafa Benitez is the right man to take the Reds to Premier League glory, downplaying media hype that the Spaniard is set to be sacked by the club.

The Reds have undergone a tough run of form with five league defeats already this season and Champions League campaign hanging by a threat.

But Hamann, who was part of Benitez’s side that won the European Cup in 2005, says Rafa is the only man to turn fortunes around at Anfield.

“People calling for Rafa’s head are being very premature,” he told BBC Sport. “He has been there five years and has improved them every season.

“Rafa has got everything a top-class manager needs, he will turn it around.”

“There are still another 27 games left in the league and while I don’t think they can win it after the start they have made, there is plenty of time to get into that top four.

“The team is good enough to pull through. They were pretty unlucky at Fulham – they could have been ahead at half-time and both the sendings off were harsh, sometimes things just don’t go your way.

“But all they need are a couple of good results and a couple of key players to be fit again and once they’ve won once or twice everything will be fine again.”