Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey says any team Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez fields today will be a difficult opponent.

"If you're the coach you have the right to do whatever you want," said Dempsey. "Benitez must be doing something right because he's won the Champions League and got to another final.

"You can't question a coach like that who has been so successful in his career.

"I can see how it would have hurt the coach of Sheffield United last season because they were in the same situation as us.

"But you shouldn't wait until the last bit to try to avoid relegation. You've had plenty of games to get it right."