Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has jumped to the defence of underfire Liverpool counterpart Rafa Benitez.

Benitez is overseeing the worst period at Liverpool in 22 years, but Redknapp said in his column for The Sun: "Rafa Benitez is going through one of those agonising, painful periods that all managers have to endure from time to time.

"It's when nothing goes right and every night you go home and rely on those closest to you to remind you that you can still do the job. Confidence takes a knock, it's a brittle thing in football.

"But I do not doubt Benitez's credentials or his ability for one second - despite a relatively poor run for Liverpool. People should not forget that Benitez has won the Champions League for Liverpool and taken them to another final.

"He has won the FA Cup and has maintained the high standards of success at one of the world's greatest football clubs. Benitez is a top-class manager and that has not changed.

"Despite the defeat to Lyon on Tuesday I still predict they will beat Fiorentina at home and then go on to qualify for the knockout stages of this season's Champions League. I could not predict a top four this season now because things are getting so much tighter with teams like Manchester City, Aston Villa, Everton and my Tottenham side pushing hard.

"But Liverpool will be up there when the honours are being dished out at the end of this season."