And Barnes believes more needs to be done on the training ground to enable Benteke to fulfil his potential at the club.
He told BBC Sport: ""I'm optimistic for Liverpool , they seem to be able to win matches 1-0 even if they don't play well which they couldn't in the past, so I'm hopeful.
GETTY
John Barnes says Liverpool need to adapt to playing with Christian Benteke
"Obviously when you look at two years ago, when we had the quality of Suarez, Sturridge who is not there with his injury, Gerrard was two years younger, Coutinho, Sterling, we don't have that.
"So maybe we have to change the way we play a little bit to be a bit more, not necessarily direct but to get the ball in the box for Benteke. We are still finding that way to adapt to him, he has to adapt to us."
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