Liverpool's style could cost them at home, Barnes says

DUBAI, Nov 26 (Reuters) Liverpool's brand of soccer is serving them well in European competition but could cost them in the Premier League, according to former Anfield striker John Barnes.

The best the club could expect from their domestic campaign was a fourth-place finish, the ex-England international said today.

''It is interesting how well they are doing in Europe and I suppose the way they play is better suited for Europe,'' Barnes told reporters in Dubai ahead of a business and sports conference.

''It is very difficult...what you want from any team is consistency and that is where they fall down because when they play well they do play well.

''Put is this way, look at the way Arsenal play -- at their height -- they are better than Chelsea, but they are not consistent and that is why Chelsea are the best team because they play consistently well and that is the key.'' Liverpool, who beat Manchester City 1-0 on Saturday, are ninth in the Premier League, 13 points behind leaders Manchester United.

In the European Champions League, they lead group C with one match to play.

Manager Rafael Benitez has come under fire for continually changing his line-up but Barnes threw his weight behind the Spaniard.

''Okay, with Liverpool it is disappointing but I like Rafa Benitez and I think that everyone has to stick together. You can see the outcome of Manchester United supporting Alex Ferguson 16 years ago.

''I think football is too quick to judge -- 'this is not right, change the manager, change the players'.

''Liverpool are the fourth best team in the country and that is where I expect them to finish.

''I don't want to jump on the bandwagon. The system of squad rotation worked when they won the European Cup but now it isn't working. You have to support the manager in every decision he takes.

''While I may not be a fan of it because as a player we want to play every game, I cannot make a judgement on it. It is hard when you are not there Monday to Friday.

''Football fans, myself included, will say 'you should do this, he should play', but the manager is there Monday to Friday and he knows better than me -- I back him all the way.'' He conceded that Benitez could do with a 25-year-old John Barnes playing for him but said it was harder and harder for Liverpool to attract talent.

''When players become available now it is hard for Liverpool to attract the best players in the world. They used to be able to get the best players and now they can't -- that's a fact of life.

''When the best players become available, unfortunately they are going to choose Chelsea and Manchester United so it is going to be hard for any Liverpool manager.'' Reuters PDS DB2052