The former Ajax speedster has featured regularly as a late substitute for the Reds this season, brought on to threaten a tiring opposition with his pace.
However, he has rarely figured in the first XI under Benitez - starting just six Premier League matches in 2008/09 and making 17 substitute appearances - and recently revealed following the Merseysiders' epic 4-4 Champions League draw with Chelsea that: “With this supporting role, I am not happy.”
And now the 22-year-old has been backed by Dutch icon Van Basten, who believes Babel should have stayed in Holland playing regularly in the Eredivisie, rather than be left to rot on the bench in England.
“If you look at Ryan Babel it is a mortal sin he now sits on the bench at Liverpool,” he said in the Daily Star Sunday.
“He went too soon. He was playing well in Holland and for the Under-21s but now he has taken a step backwards.”
NEWS: Babel unhappy with bit-part role
LIVERPOOL FANS! Check FourFourTwo.com’s ever-expandinginterviewsarchive for more stuff to read:
Web Exclusives Ian Rush, Craig Johnston
Q&A Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres
One on One Michael Owen, Nicolas Anelka, Kevin Keegan
Boy's A Bit Special Danny Guthrie
Ask A Silly Question John Barnes, Peter Crouch, Luis Garcia, John Aldridge
Perfect XI Jamie Carragher
What Happened Next? Julian Dicks
And Another Thing Being a Big Four fan
Plus! Rate Liverpool players (and others) on Talentspotter
