Sammy Lee admits Liverpool Football Club boss Rafael Benitez is going through a difficult time.

The Spaniard has been in the news recently for his amazing rant against Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, as the race for the Premier League title hots up.

More of a worry for Benitez at the moment is the fact he is hospital-bound again as he undergoes a third operation on troublesome kidney stones.

"It's a difficult time for him because, you know Rafa Benitez - all he wants to do is be out there on the training pitch with his players,” Lee told the official club website.

“That's his forte. But he's still buoyant. He's going for the third operation but we're hoping it won't keep him out for too long - hopefully just a couple of days.

"All credit to Rafa for what he's put in place. His attention to detail and organisation means that, if any one of us is missing, there won't be a blip."