Former Liverpool favourite Yossi Benayoun has made startling revelations about his time at Anfield, pointing the finger squarely at ex-manager Rafael Benitez for forcing his departure.
The Israeli international, who joined the Reds in 2007, claims Benitez's treatment made his life "a misery" and ultimately led to his exit just three seasons later.
The Broken Promise and Anfield Arrival
Benayoun's Liverpool journey began amidst great excitement in the summer of 2007, when he arrived alongside high-profile signings like Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel.
The winger reportedly went back on a deal to stay at West Ham United to secure his move to Merseyside, showing his commitment to the club from the outset.
His debut campaign suggested this faith was well-placed, as he netted an impressive 11 goals across all competitions. However, 21 of his appearances that season came from the bench, hinting at frustrations that would later surface.
A Relationship Breakdown
Despite his contributions on the pitch, Benayoun felt increasingly marginalised by Benitez's management style. The Spaniard's notoriously cold approach left the player feeling undervalued and disrespected.
"If I played well, I never felt he gave me credit," Benayoun explained. "When I scored, I still expected to be out of the team the next game."
The situation reached breaking point during the 2009-10 season when, after fan boos following substitutions against Fulham and Lyon, Benitez allegedly told Benayoun he was "surprised the fans booed because I was not good enough."
Benayoun delivered a damning assessment, claiming: "He tried to destroy my confidence. You can't treat a player like this and expect him to be happy."
The Final Straw and Chelsea Move
Benayoun revealed he remained silent about his unhappiness out of loyalty to Liverpool, though he says both squad and staff were aware of his situation.
The end came dramatically when, before the final match of his last season, Benitez approached him during training with a blunt message: "You will not be in the squad for this game. Thank you for your three years of service, now you can call your agent to do a deal with another club."
That prompt led to Benayoun's move to Chelsea in 2010, a deal that was completed before Benitez himself left Liverpool just one month later.
The winger ended his Anfield career with 29 goals across 134 matches during a trophy-less period for the club. His subsequent move to Stamford Bridge proved unsuccessful, leading to loan spells at Arsenal and West Ham before a permanent transfer to Queens Park Rangers.
Benayoun's revelations add to the complex legacy of Rafael Benitez's Liverpool reign, highlighting the human impact of managerial decisions behind the scenes at top football clubs.
