Barnes backs "outstanding" Brendan Rodgers

Liverpool legend John Barnes believes that Brendan Rodgers could be the right man to take the Reds forward as long as he is given time.

The Swansea City boss is believed to be on the verge of signing a three-year deal with the Merseyside club.

"As far as I am concerned Brendan Rodgers is an outstanding young manager," Barnes told BBC Sport. "I think he plays in a very modern and comprehensive way and you can see what he has done at Swansea.

"I think Brendan will do well if people support him. All he needs is to be given time and support. The problem that he will have is his inexperience and [that he] is not a big name and hasn't been around for a period of time [so] fans can say he doesn't have the experience.

"For me, it is not important at all. What is important is the quality that he actually has. I hope the Liverpool fans get behind him and back him because I think he is a very good manager."

While Rodgers is expected to put pen to paper at Anfield, it is understood that the Reds are stalling over the compensation fee for the Northern Irishman.