Sami Hyypia has hit back at Rafael Benitez's detractors, insisting that the Liverpool manager will deliver the side to a top four finish in the Barclays Premier League this season.
The Finn, who left Anfield last summer after a decade on Merseyside, responded to critics calling for the Kop boss to resign following a tumultuous campaign for the Reds which has seen them fail tu build on last season's second-place achievement.
However Hyypia, 36, feels that the Spaniard's achievements in the Champions League have been largely downplayed despite working on a significantly lesser budget than Chelsea.
He said: "Should Benitez quit as Liverpool manager? Absolutely not, he has done a great job there so why should he? He hasn't had the money of Manchester United and Chelsea, but he has still been successful.
"Look how much Chelsea have spent to try and win the Champions League. Rafa won the Champions League in his first season in charge, then got to another final with nowhere near the budget of Chelsea."
Speaking ahead of Tuesday's trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Hyypia has tipped his former club to pip the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City to the elusive Champions League qualification spot and thinks the players will thrive on the pressure to win the race for fourth spot.
"I am sure that Liverpool will finish in the top four," he insisted.
"Manchester City and Spurs have put together great squads, but when the pressure is on in the last 10 games of the season, experience starts to show.
"Most of those Liverpool lads know what it is like to play under pressure, and that for me is why they will finish the season in the top four.
"Rafa is an excellent man-manager and during all my time at Liverpool everybody liked him and everybody respected him.
"Players don't stick up for their gaffer if you are not a good man-manager.
"It would be easy for the players to blame the manager, but they are taking responsibility and sticking up for their boss - and that's a rare thing now."
Hyypia, currently plying his trade at Bayer Leverkusen, still holds Anfield close to his heart and believes that there may be a role for him at the club once his playing days are over.
He added: "I had some great years there, made some great friends, and built up a very special relationship with the fans.
"I think the door will always be open for me at Liverpool."
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