Klinsmann lays into Rafa Benitez during meeting with Liverpool owners

London, Dec.11 (ANI): Former Spurs and German striker Jurgen Klinsmann has put Rafa Benitez's Liverpool future in greater doubt - by slaughtering his management of the club.

Klinsmann met Kop owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks for talks about taking over from Benitez, and according to The Sun, hit out after the Reds' latest humiliating Champions League defeat on Wednesday.

Klinsmann said that it was unfair of Benitez to keep heaping pressure on his only star players - Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

Klinsmann, 45, said: "What you miss in Liverpool is the technical pace and the passing. They have a couple of players who can do that but not all over the place. There's no real flow and there's a lack of creativity. If it's down to Torres or Gerrard, then that's not enough.

"You can't always put it on the shoulders of two players. That's why they need more quality in the team to make sure they finish in the top four this season. It is a big surprise that Liverpool didn't make it to the final 16 because they have always been there over the last few years and had tremendous success," he added.

"It's sad that Liverpool are not in the knockout stage because that is where they belong, Liverpool's name is huge on the continent. In my opinion they are lacking creativity and a real No 10, a playmaker, and a great world-class striker next to Torres," Klinsmann said.

"It's frustrating to see where they stand now. Over the stretch of six games they just couldn't keep up. They lack quality," he added. (ANI)